Open Source Universe

This week we looked at open source software for use in education.  Stellarium  is a free open source planetarium for your computer.  It allows the user to turn their desktop screen into a 3D view of the sky.  You can locate galaxies, planets, stars and constellations.  

What I liked best about this software was how realistic and crisp the images are.  You really feel like you in  the middle of a field looking up at the sky.  Each star, planet and galaxie is clickable, and provides information for each.  What I liked least was that it was difficult to get used to and not very intuitive.

This would make a science class more experiential and fun.  It is literally like bringing a planetarium to the classroom.  This would work best if you mirrored your desktop display to the in class projector, you could literally take a class on a  tour of our galaxy.  I can't believe this is free.  To see a demo of Stellarium, check out this video on how powerful this FREE piece of software is.

7 (seven) things about PLE's

Reflection of: 7 things you should know about PLE's

The Educause Learning Initiative's 7 Things You Should Know about Personal Learning Environment offers some general information about PLE's and their implications to education.  The one bit of information that I found very useful was point number 7.  What PLE's do for students is to provide them with a framework for their learning.  Part of learning is doing research to see what the experts say and it's implications for real life.  The goal of research (to me) is learn what has been done, find the meaning and build upon it with your own questions and subsequent research.  A key element for teachers is to equip students with the ability to decipher what is credible, scholarly and meaningful research.  Often, I find that students read something on a screen and accept it as fact.  How often have we heard students say that they, "heard it from a friend."  Or if a teacher presents something to a student then the student takes what the teacher is saying or presenting as gospel.  What PLE's do is challenge the student to think critically about what they are reading and using in their own learning/research.  Not only will students read critically but in the process of reading form more questions for them to research and learn.  Another useful and practical lesson learned from PLE's is the ability to receive, evaluate and learn from criticism.  PLE and Web 2.0 were made for each other in that teachers, students, experts or really anyone on earth can comment or collaborate with a student.  The ability to receive correction is crucial to life.  The next step is to evaluate the source of the criticism.  Is this from a trusted source or not?  And finally the most important part of criticism is the ability to learn from it and not repeat the same mistake.

For a resource about evaluating research

PLE's overall seem to be the natural next step in education.  Where the student is responsible for using the internet to collaborate, research and create.

You MIGHT use this someday...

My biggest complaint through school was that I never understood why I had to sit through Algebra, Chemistry and any other subject I had no interest in.  Lisa Nielsen implies on her blog, the innovative teacher that her school experience was a waste.  She says that she is who she is in spite of school not because of it.  I for one used to agree with her.  That my school experiences did nothing for me other than teach me how to read, write and do basic math.  But after some reflection, I disagree with her now.  What school did for me was to expose me to a variety of subjects and experiences.  Yes, I do not like math and do not want to pursue math further, but how else would I have learned that.  Same goes for the sciences.  

The most valuable lesson taught to me at school was how to learn when I am not interested in the topic.  Not everything in life is easy or interesting.  Sometimes we have to do a task that is not fun or that we are passionate about.  I love my job, but not all of it.  There are aspects that are tedious and sometimes seem pointless.  Nevertheless I have to get through it to be able to do what I love.   

Now that doesn't mean that my schooling was perfect.  It was not.  I unfortunately learned early on that all I had to do is remember enough information for a test to do well.  Essentially, I was conditioned that a good grade on a test was all that mattered and I was rewarded at home by my parents and got honors recognition.    I strongly believe that a test based curriculum excludes learning.  When students are asking what is going to be on a test rather than how it relates to the real world today, then we have a problem.  Therefore, problem based learning would have been a tremendous tool in my education.  

Now that I am studying education, there are more questions than answers for me.  How do we teach and meet requirements without tests?  Is the system designed that all that matters are test results?  Do the state standards prevent learning or promote it?  How do we measure heling students find their calling or passions?

The biggest disappointment for me in my educational experience is that it took me almost 30 years to find out what I am passionate about.  It took me a long time to find out what I am good at and what I want to devote my life to.  Although, school did show me what I am not passionate about and what I am good at.  Maybe school is about exposing what is out there and giving people options to pursue what they want.