Learning Entry Blog - Distance Learning

Distance learning has become more and more popular through all ages and levels of learning. For instance Florida Virtual School has expanded to now include elementary thru high school. Some think that this expansion is not needed and/or is not a good idea to have children at such a young age going to school on the internet. Yet, in my opinion this does not necessarily have to be the child's only schooling method, this can be used as a supplement to keep kids on track and even ahead of schedule. As for middle school and high school having distance learning available allows the kids to get ahead so they can take other electives and make their school experience more enjoyable. I personally took a class through the Florida Virtual School in high school and was able to take an extra class that I would not have been able to take otherwise. Distance learning can also be advantageous to those students who either fall behind or even started late, it can help them to catch up and stay with students closer to their age.
However, there are drawbacks to distance learning. If that is a child's only method of schooling it can harm their social interaction and person-to-person interaction. Also many students take these online classes in college and many have admitted to not spending as much time, energy and attention to them because they are online so are not very interactive.
Florida virtual school is one of the best virtual schools in the nation and is often times used as a template for other virtual schools, sometimes we have to trust the professionals and believe that they know what they are doing. In the end, its up to the parent and/or students whether or not to take the class(es) online, they are not forcing anything, it is just an option.

Distance learning can be advantageous in almost any field of study, there are many times courses to train new employees, with distance learning readily available new employees can start sooner and don't have to travel very far to start training. Sport management can benefit from distance learning because some events are in different states and the organizers have to travel to setup and run the events. If this were the case, they wouldn't be able to attend classes during that time period, distance learning can give them the chance to keep up with their class no matter where they are. It can also be beneficial if an employee wants to pursue a masters but the company can afford to let them go, they can further their education and work at the same time with distance education.

Below is a video from YouTube of a commmercial from one of the many schools that offer distance education. Nait, Pheonix, Capella and many universities offer distance education. They know that there are other aspects of people's lives thats restrict them from furthering their schooling and are more inclined to offer other avenues.

Learning Entry Blog - Open Source Software

Open source software's definition according to Wikipedia is computer software for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that meets the Open Source Definition or that is in the public domain. Many people are joining the band wagon and using different open source software programs. These programs can range from anything from gimp, which is like photoshop, to audacity which is like garage band but for any type of computer not just Mac. A large benefit to these programs which are very similar to the commercial programs is that you don't have to spend the outrageous sums of money and you can edit the applications to your own liking. Open Source Software can be viewed both as a good thing and a bad thing. However, there are advantages to having the actual software is that they are reliable, updates are most likely guaranteed, and support for questions is readily available. Sometimes it could be better to just by the actual software because it is more likely that a person can "hack" into your files and plant viruses due to the fact that it is all online based.
The open source software movement is moving the "computer generation" in a better direction. This could help decrease the price of some of the commercial software and even make some of it free. It also may help different computer manufacturers to back some of the applications that are offered online.

Open source software can be beneficial to any organization with many computers and workers. There is most likely a discount for corporations and organizations that buy the commercial software but to save money is advantageous. The use the open source software applications allows the employees to use the software whenever and wherever they need to, not just with their work computers. Sport management is one of the fields of studies that can benefit from these "free" softwares. Gimp, the photoshop equivalent, is just one example of the applications that can be used in the field. This tool can be used to manipulate images and promote events.

Tux Paint is an open source software that is specially made for children. It allows them to express themselves with making their own drawings. This application is a drawing program for young children with sound effects, cartoon characters, and fun rubber stamp and stickerbook pictures.

Learning Entry Blog- Concept Maps

Concept maps are a great way to show ideas in a structural view. Concepts maps give a visual and an easy way to view different ideas and how they are all connected and related. They are presented typically in boxes or circles with arrows attaching them directly and indirectly to the main topic. Concept maps are often times used in education and teaching because they help see the overall picture in an easier more understandable way.

Concept maps can be used in many fields of study and workplaces. They would be great in the sports business or management field in meeting and events. Showing a concept map in a collaborative meeting to show the goals and ideas that are related to the hierarchical idea. They can be used for events because they can show the goals of the events and how the staff is working to achieve them so the participants and spectators can give feedback to the company and management staff.

There are many websites to create concept maps like; bubbl.us, gliffy and inspriation. There are also websites that describe what concept maps are and give you ideas to starting a concept map. Graphic.org is a website that gives ideas for making a concept map and also how to make one. Below is a picture of a concept map from graphic.org of an abstract concept map.

Concept Map

I decided to use Webspiration. I also found some new folksonomies that I might use in the future and even now! Really cool things in here that a lot of people could use! Enjoy!

Concept Map