M9Blog What is Bobby?

It sounds like a girl’s name.  But you did not say who is Bobby? your question is what is Bobby?  I like this site because it allows you to think out loud with humor.

What is WebXACT (formerly known as Bobby)?            WebXACT is a tool for analyzing your web page(s) for accessibility. It was developed by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) and is available for free on the web. It is a legal requirement – Equality is a basic democratic right and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), requires all publicly accessed websites to be compliant with Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines, an initiative set up by the Internet’s governing body, the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C). Bobby is only an automated tool that points out where the guidelines appear to be broken. It can very well be that certain guidelines are indeed followed. Every website is unique and therefor, the Bobby accessibility report should not be taken literally. All information contained in the report should act as support in the process of improving accessibility. A human evaluation by the webmaster supported by the Bobby accessibility report are the optimal instrument one can use into identifying accessibility problems and finding solutions.

There are many ways to define web accessibility, but one simple definition is to allow equal access to information and core functionality of your website to all users. This does not mean that everyone will see or hear the same thing while visiting your website: that would be next to impossible, as people all access the internet using different methods or in different environments.  It does mean that your website should be able to deliver the same service or information to all users, depending on your target audience and the service you provide to your users.

How does it affect your website design?

Of course, no matter how well organized your web site is and how effective it is at grabbing the visitor’s attention, they have to view your web site as important. You have to give them reasons to stay and browse your site, to bookmark your site so they can refer to it again and to tell others about your site so you can build new visitors. Offer something of value such as: newsletter, free tips, monthly coupons. Put effort into the words of your web site.   If visitors can’t get around easily on your web site, they want stay very long. 

Because it covers all accessibility guidelines, Bobby can identify problems which are ultimately easy to fix but often overlooked. It’s often the case where there was no one to point them out. At the end of the process webmasters will see that by thoroughly going through the report and making minor or less minor changes to their website, the degree of accessibility of their website will have improved significantly.

 Improving accessibility should be a motivation alone. Even if a website does not pass the Bobby test it is not to say it is not usable or accessible to a degree or another. There are many very usable and accessible web sites on the web that pay attention to their users and yet do not get the Bobby Approved rating. Improving your web site for users is enough to start with. It is a step forward for your website and your users if you’ve just taken the accessibility path.

Reflections this week

I was so impressed after created a bookmark of your 10 favorite websites.  After working with it for several hours, I finally figured it out.  Now, I am going straight to my bookmarks because these are the sites that I look at everyday.  Hurray!!  Sometimes it takes me a minute to get it, but when I get it, I got it.

Reflections this week

I enjoyed learning how you can implement different types of internet services in the classroom.  For instance, how can I use email in my classroom to teach a lesson.  Technology in the classroom is everything.  I don’t see a way out of it if you are going to be a teacher.    Taking this class is very interesting.  I might want to some day teach a course as an adjunct instructor.  Perhaps, I might check to see what is available at Trenholm Tech.  I know that you can teach there with a bachelor’s degree.      

How can you help students be more effective when conducting research online?

One way is by using Critical Thinking. What do I know? What do I not know? Will I ever find an answer? Knowing what we don’t know helps us focus our questions, and how long and hard we look for an answer depends on how likely it seems that we’ll find an answer. In short, we need to be able to assess the quality of our search.

Once information is located, people often overlook inconsistencies or conflicts. Searches typically produce a loosely-connected cluster of articles of varying relevance and contrasting opinions. Inquiries are often weakened because disconnected knowledge allows conflicts between articles to go undetected; positions are not explicitly compared. In addition, inconsistencies within a text may be overlooked because readers tend to form a framework early on–we think we know what the article is about, and miss anything that doesn’t fit our framework.

Effective research is a means improving our ability to monitor what we know and how we know it. Here are some ways to accomplish this:  Put the project aside for a brief time. Taking a break helps in several ways. When immersed in the process, people often feel they’ve learned more than they really have. Take a short break improves the ability to accurately assess what’s been learned. Also, returning to a problem repeatedly over time improves memory and comprehension, and allows us to take a slightly different perspective each time.

Talk it out.  Keeping up a running dialogue with oneself is effective in highlighting inconsistencies and gaps in knowledge. Suppose we read a paper on testing and come across the claim that “passing cutoffs are set arbitrarily.” As we attempt to tell ourselves what arbitrary cutoffs means, we realize we don’t really know. We can then reread looking for this information, or ferret out additional sources. Once we’ve collected a substantial body of knowledge, we can lay out the pros and cons to ourselves or a live audience. Develop content knowledge. Usually, people are capable of critical thinking nevertheless fall for weaker arguments when they lack relevant information. Nevertheless, we can compensate in the early stages by taking advantage of the content support afforded by online resources.

Many databases provide thesauri–lists of alternative ways of accessing a content area. For example, the ERIC Wizard(http://searcheric.org) uses a thesaurus for widening and narrowing searches. We can construct our own thesauri as well. When you don’t know, find someone who does. We’re often reluctant to admit ignorance, but if we’ve already tried the strategies above, it’s likely that the remaining questions are good, hard questions. Searching for information online is an exercise in critical thinking, and becoming an expert in critical inquiry takes practice.                    

Reflections this week.

I never put much emphasis on what type of software to purchase.  As long as I have Microsoft Office Software, I am good to go.  It is interesting to know that there is software for all types users.  Everybody has a different goal in mind and there is software for all users.  Now, I see.

Do I have the best system in place this semester to do my assignments?

Today, I would love to go to ASU home football game with my friends.  They are telling me that I am no fun anymore because all I do is homework.  Unfortunately, one class and working keeps me with a very tight schedule.  Last night, I stayed up  until 3am in the morning trying to meet Tuesday deadline.  I tried to look at the mid-term and can you believe I can’t print it out.  You don’t have much time to think, you have to click and keep moving or get kicked out of the system.  Everything is sensitive and and it makes me nervous.    

M7 Blog Struggling or Emerging Readers

 How can you modify technology based assignments for struggling or emerging readers?

This is what we did in the College of Education for our emerging or struggling readers.  We ordered Software called Plato that students can access from the internet 24-hours a day.  The administrators attended several 3 days seminars to familiarize ourselves with the software.   Students are given a password to login to work on any assignment in whatever areas they are struggling with and we monitor their progress as administrators.  All students in the College of Education found this software very useful in helping them pass required tests.  Students can work at their own pace 24 hours a day with multiple attempts with 24 hours free technical support.  This software is monitored through the Reading Center and the College of Education staff.

 

PLATO Learning, Inc. has announced the release of PLATO Courses. These semester-long online courses provide schools and districts a way to deliver rigorous credit recovery solutions, alternatives for students not succeeding in the traditional environment, credit-granting distance learning programs, and home school curricula.

 PLATO Courses—available in Reading, Algebra 1A and 1B, Algebra 2A and 2B, English 9A and 9B, English 10A and 10B, Biology Semesters A and B, Physical Science Semesters A and B, Geography Semesters A and B, and American History Semesters A and B—are aligned to national standards in each subject area. Each course provides a comprehensive course curriculum, including exemptive assessments, instructional content, cumulative final exams, and state standards coverage reports. To promote the successful use of PLATO Courses, PLATO education consultants provide both onsite and electronic professional development sessions.

Each PLATO Course includes teacher support materials—a Teacher’s Guide and Implementation Guide. The Teacher’s Guide includes pacing charts, grading sheets, offline assessments, and a scope and sequence; the Implementation Guide helps schools plan for evaluations and access best practices in instructional strategies, coaching, and mentoring.

 The new courseware is designed to be appealing, interactive, and engaging to capture and keep the attention of media-savvy adolescents who are often exposed to a wide array of technology products, according to the announcement. Relevant, real-world connections, enhanced graphics, and modern music are incorporated into the new courseware to help build understanding and comprehension, particularly among struggling readers. 

Mid-Term

I am not complaining.  But a mid-term in addition to weekly assignments.  I guessed this is one way the instructor will know if we are learning the content.  I reckon I have to keep at it until the fat lady has sung.  My way of whining down at the end of the day.

Reflections on this week

I think you have to be really smart to be a teacher.  However, I do see how you can apply what I am learning in this class on my present job.  This week in my studying, I can’t imagine in today’s world, how can anybody can be in a classroom without using some kind of multimedia tools.  When I was in school, writing on the board was about it.  But now, laptop and using powerpoint is definitely the way to go. There are so many things you can do to enhance the students learning.

M6Blog

M6 Personal BlogHow can you manage the organization and storage of student files as the complete computer-based assignments and develop an electronic portfolio?  Answer: Provide a secure, individualized access to personal student information such as grades, tuition account, financial aid, email and calendar. It also provides course information, instructional tools, library reserves, and other educational resources. Our students are prompted to use Blackboard at ASU.You can also used Blackboard to do Electronic portfolios enable students and faculty members to assemble, present and share information online for documenting academic growth, career evaluation and course preparation. Portfolios can be generated via the Portfolio Creation Wizard or customized based on pre-established portfolio templates. Institutions can also develop their own portfolio templates to guide their students in developing their portfolios.  A tutorial session is available using blackboard and a full-time staff available on campus if you have problems assessing blackboard