So for my short course choice I went with Apple’s iTunes University. I figured that not only can learn something for my class assignment on taking an eLerning course, but I could at the same time learn more about my newly acquired iPod Touch.
At this particular moment, I have not been able to access “iTunes U,” because I do not have access to the iTunes interface/library to pick a particular course. However, as I understand it, a lot of them are videos (since the tour of iTunes U describes the course materials as episodes). So with some searching around on my iPod, I found some educational training videos on numerous subjects from Language learning, how-to’s, political, cooking, and much more.
My first experience was tapping into Mike’s Physics <–web presense. Here there are only a few courses available at the moment, but as Mikes explains it, “Physics is beautiful, breathtaking, and awesome.” A place to learn about physics in a “Dirty little easy to understand physics reviews.” He forwards the training with a the idea of the videos as not being meant as stand-alone learning tools, but complementary aids to class lectures and a good textbook.
Now, I already know quite a bit about physics, as I have studied it extensively in the past and still use it quite often today (maybe not in as much depth, but still use it). In either case, I was able to follow along with example problems that had step-by-step solutions on solving things such as the basic material covered in studying physics such as the top focus being “how things move.” The three main things 1. position, 2. velocity, and 3. acceleration were covered in the seven minute training videos that I watched, of what they are and how they relate to one another.
The way that he explains the definitions, with images and graphics, to get the point across are done quite well. I was able to follow along quite well and it was kind of fun to get a refresher of simple equations to help one determine the average acceleration and how it equals the change in velocity divided by time. Then I was taken through a few example word problems to be solved on how to find how fast things move and the time it takes for them to get there, such as the average velocity of Usain Bolt (the Olympic world record runner) during the race.
All in all, this was a very pleasent experience. I will be attempting the iTunes U later on this week, just in case it is different. So, I guess check back to this entry for an update.
I bet if you can say, you had a good time learning about “physics” then it must be a very well written e-learning course. I felt that videos are the best way to learn. I also felt like doing an example, or having something interesting to relate the information to can make for a very good learning experience.
Hey man,
Im glad you played with iTunes U because I had never heard about it until we were in Kibbys class on Friday. I didnt even realize it was on your iTunes, or better yet, even existed. So i guess you took a course over how things move? If I understand what youre saying. Thats cool, you learned how to take real world problems and solve them using those equations and stuff? Anyways, I know you just learned about iTunes U so let me know how you like it!
iTunes U has been fun. I myself had only heard about it that week as well on Tuesday from Mr. Batchelder. I am really getting into it though. There is so much out there to learn from.
However, there has been a up in down in the quality of learning information I have noticed. Some of it is just really drab and boring. You would think that a training video from an ivy league school would be better done than some of the ones I have come across, especially if it is on a subject that requires visuals…like photography, but instead I had run into one particular that was just audio of the instructor talking with people and through most of the lessons it seemed that he walked around helping people out doing stuff, so you never actually get to see what is going on. On top of that the sound quality was variable. So, from that one I really did not learn much at all.
It seems many of them are a trial and error type of thing. Some have great information to lend, others just drag without ever really making a point. I remember for the photography one, I was sitting there thinking…”Wow, people pay how much to go to these so called great schools? Man, they are not learning anything from what I can tell.” Though, I did think about it too…they have much longer semesters than we do and get their information stretched out more. Still, the stuff I was ‘watching’ (not really, because there was nothing to actually watch but a screen shot of the instructors computer and the occasional movement here and there), could have been more specific and taught with greater emphasis in its execution.
Anyhow, I digress…I have found other things that are better. Just, take it as you go. It is not what you learn, it is how you apply it.
Great pick! The experience you had going through your lesson is the kind of experience I want to offer to my users too. I think it’s all about giving the user different learning experiences with text, graphics, and video. Not to mention other things.
I sampled some of Mike’s Physics on iTunes- this is a great find! I really liked how Mike uses humor, type, images, and animation to convey his message. This is the kind of thing I want to achieve for my site- to make it fun to learn something that could easily be boring. It’s also cool that you can watch the lessons on your iPod on-the-go.
I randomly stumbled across another cool physics lesson on the Discovery Channel site, check it out…
http://science.discovery.com/interactives/literacy/newton/newton.html
Awesome find on Discovery! I loved it. That was too cool. I can only hope to be able to come up with something like that.
I agree that being able to watch things on the go makes it a huge plus for someone, like myself, who is busy and on the go all the time.