Martin's thoughts

Zuckerberg on privacy of facebook

Martin G. Döpel — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:31:16 +0000

It’s really interesting, how uncomfortable he seems to feel.

Teaching using songs

Martin G. Döpel — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:11:35 +0000

Here is a good example for using songs in teaching. An AP psychologist sings about the different types of biases (via).

Well, I knew it …

Martin G. Döpel — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:56:33 +0000

it had to come this way. It’s kind of inevitable, if there is a new toy, educators get overexcited and think of “revolutionary technologies” for the classroom (Colleges Dream of Paperless, iPad-centric Education | Gadget Lab | Wired.com). I also think, that portable computers are may be a good tool for class and courses. However, they should have their proper space.

Computers are not always the first choice. Educators should always opt for the easiest way. Of course, you may have role-plays in virtual environments, but it’s done quicker and more authentic in class. One may toy with new technologies, but not all students will join the teachers’ efforts (this is one thing, I also learned: You’ll never reach 100% of the class with e-learning solutions, simply, because not everyone sees the advantages even after being demonstrated. But I think one should mind the 20% one reaches and not the 80% who are ignorant.)
The video shown on the website shows nothing new. If you have some good calendar software, PDF reader and knowledge management software, all this can be done already, without buying an iPad.
I like Apple. I have an iPod and 2 MacBooks, for certain tasks MAC-Software is really great. However, I don’t think it’s a good idea to commit students to a certain device. Solutions should always include different devices, open standards and different ways of accessing it.
Everything should be web-based. So students may learn at home, using campus computers or may use their grandparents machine when they visit them and fancy some learning.
An eBook is still a book, a calendar could also be organized in a Filofax and videos can be shown on DVDs. For years, I have been waiting for a course-ware programs that is easy to use and allow us to design pedagogical reasonable websites that includes videos, quizzes etc. in one work-flow. So far, this can not be seen.
Colleges, safe the money and invest it in proper e-learning solutions that are more than mere transfers of already existing (and boring) pedagogical techniques.

CDTL presentation

Martin G. Döpel — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:14:07 +0000

Podcasting in German classes on Prezi

Links

Martin G. Döpel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:50:27 +0000

Bayer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8X3jUm4qEc
Heja: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuxYi7QElLs&feature=related
Heja2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xICw0d2efFs

Why blogging is good for you

Martin G. Döpel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:59:38 +0000

Writing is a good way to practice your language skills, as it gives you time to reflect and to plan your text. And time is crucial, especially at the beginning. This applies to both - your first and your foreign language(s). So, write regularly, e.g. keep a log, not only about your feelings, but also about what you learned that day, what you understood, and what should be clarified (see earlier post). But why is blogging so good? Dailywritingtips.com lists five reasons:

1. You’ll get into the habit of writing regularly
2. Instant feedback lets you know how you’re doing
3. Having readers for your work is a big motivation
4. Your writing will improve
5. Blogs are an ideal medium for experimentation
(http://www.dailywritingtips.com/five-reasons-why-blogging-improves-your-writing/)

From my point of view, number 4 and 2 are the most important ones. And these apply for your mother tongue as well as any foreign language. If you have to express yourself, you have to do it in a meaningful and clear way. So writing, and therefore blogging, helps you to practice to bring a message across.
But, what is a good blog post? You should read this article to find out!

Links für Online-Mindmaps

Martin G. Döpel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:37:05 +0000

Ich habe bei mindmeister.com für jede Gruppe eine MindMap zum Thema “Lebensmittel” erstellt.
Gruppe 6: http://www.mindmeister.com/39818304/lebensmittel-gruppe-6
Gruppe 3: http://www.mindmeister.com/39818513/lebensmittel-gruppe-3

To edit the maps, you have to sign up to mindmeister or have on OpenID. The basic account of mindmeister is free of charge.

Presentations that “ignite”

Martin G. Döpel — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:08:40 +0000

When it comes to “e-learning”, I have to think about Christina’s comment: “Fast and dirty”, meaning quickly produced and not well-planned. So-called “rapid learning applications” as screencasts, Adobe presenter flick (formerly known as “Macromedia Breeze”) etc. seem to be very attractive, but somewhat useless, if not well-produced. But could there be a format that is quick, enlightening and (ideally) entertaining?
O’Reilly, the publishing company that gave us the term “web 2.0” and hundreds of clever computer books, organizes a series of events called “ignite“. Everyone can give a talk there. There are no restrictions regarding content. All rules apply only to the mode of presentation:
- Every talk lasts 5 minutes.
- Every presentation consists of 20 slides,
- which auto-advance (usually) every 15 seconds.
Is it possible to get a message across? I think, yes. Here is an example (by Tim O’Reilly):

Ignite has a channel on youtube, where more presentations can be found. I think, these presentations are really great.

The priciples of magic

Martin G. Döpel — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:09:10 +0000

I just came across a nice article on the neuroscience of magic on wired.com, featuring some nice videos.
Magic and the Brain: Teller Reveals the Neuroscience of Illusion

Blogging über studio d

Martin G. Döpel — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:49:51 +0000

Dear reader,
normally, I blog in English here, but now I decided to note down the experiences we have working with studio d. Therefore, posts in this category will be in German.

Christina Kuhn hatte eine gute Idee, ich sollte doch mal meine Erfahrugen mit studio d systematisieren und ein Blog führen. Da ich nicht noch ein weiteres Blog aufmachen wollte, beschloss ich, dieses Blog einfach auf meinem schon vorhandenen “beruflichen” Blog zu realisieren. Künftig werde ich also die Erfahrungen, die ich als Lehrer mit diesem Lehrwerk sammle, mit Euch teilen.