Cmaptool innovation

Writing with Cmaptools is concept ideal of having quick meaningful  knowledge of linking words with their key words enclosed in a box. I had a busy schedule to interact with some students by asking some questions  about their understanding using Cmaptools. Such questions are (a): which aspects of the Cmaptools find most useful for their studies ?. (b):  To what extent in their confident  using Cmaptools ?. (c) Does it make sense using Cmaptools?.In addition, the students response are varies,some find it interesting, as well too complicated. But (75%) statistic of the students find it interesting than 25% who considered Cmaptools as complicated. In conclusion, Cmaptools concept serves as  a better means of correlating, understanding how relatives words can easily links to each other as well proffer a quick view. I hope it advisable to make use of Cmaptools in our studies whenever it needed.
Thanks.
Till  next training session.

'Cmaptool experience continued...'

Hi there

I was at my first Cmaptool training session yesterday and it went really well.  The students were very open minded and most of them, in my opinion embraced the program and already had ideas how to apply cmaptool daily or in their subjects.  

What enthused the students more, was learning that with Cmap, they could add videos, pictures and more to the project they busy with as well as changing the appearance in terms of font text style and colours etc.

Thus far i personally find Cmaptool very beneficial for both student and teacher and would recommend it for daily use inside and out of the classroom.

Till next time....

"Cmap tool"...

Hey

After using the cmapping tool for a while I found it quite interesting. You can use it to illustrate the relationships between the concepts (something you don’t really see in mind mapping  as this gives you a better picture and strengthens your understanding of the concept or main idea.

Then the media effects is also good. Adding anything from a video to a power point presentation to your “cmap” is brilliant. Other functions include customizing your “cmap” like changing colours and backgrounds. I can see how this can be a useful tool for teachers, lectures and students and it could change how we teach and learn.

Personally, at this point, I do not think I would prefer the cmapping tool. Perhaps this is because I am still unfamiliar on how to use it properly in my field (accounting) as well as in chess. This opinion may change as time progresses and I become more comfortable with the tool. There is still much to learn.

'Cmaptool' experience

Hi there

I am quite new to blogging and i am a new member of the team.  Acquiring knowledge is what my ultimate aim is and already I am off to a pretty good start (well I think so at least).  I have been introduced to the Cmap tool and as i do with most learning experiences, I try and apply them to my daily schedule which to me, speeds up familiarization.

Thus far i find the Cmaptool very user friendly and quite simple to use in a manner of speaking (I am still in the learning process).  I used it during my lectures and found it very beneficial in terms of  capturing the focus of the lecture.  When i later reflected on what i had saved it was still very vivid.  I am use to mind mapping and use it on a daily basis, but with Cmap I actually found it much easier and favourable because i could add on anything else that came to mind without cluttering.

Furthermore i think it is a good resource to have when doing assignments for example in terms of organization.

This is just a small assessment of my own experience in a very short time of using Cmap.  I will definitely keep you updated with the practice of  Cmap timeously.

So far its a thumbs up from me

iPad Lab

Our Library has just  launched a new iPad Lab. Somehow I found the name to be a bit ironic especially since an iPad, being a tablet PC, is really designed and marketed for its mobility. In addition, a statement in a brochure disseminated at the launch stated that "With technology, the library becomes virtual and not confined by space and time". The very notion of a lab where items are bolted securely seems to imply that access will be confined by space and time as that would be the only way to gain access to the tablet.

But was is the real intention behind the lab? Is it to fix iPads, train iPad users on its use and usefulness, or perhaps on the apps that can be used? Perhaps. Why do we need training in the use of iPads in the first place? I gave my 7year old daughter and iPad and she's had very little prior computer experience, gave her no training whatsoever and within in days she was able to show me features that I never knew about. Perhaps more telling is that the iPad does not ship with a manual as Apple prides itself on how intuitive its product is. Perhaps the title should be changed to the "App training Lab" as it is more descriptive of what I think would be taking place in such a lab since it is doubtful that this is where repairs will take place.

The lab is said to be available to both staff and students for at least an hour at a time. My concern with such a lab is that I find tablet PC's to be very personal devices and sharing them with multitudes my lend itself to the rise of privacy issues as users forget to log out of apps such as Facebook, Google or Twitter. The use of tablet computers are very different from laptops or desktops as it does not allow for the opening of multiple windows and therefore has an impact on workflow and is still largely designed for users as consumers rather than producers. I can for example imagine the limited use of features such as the camera as the use of the tablet is limited to the lab which is set up along the traditional lab setting design. I can go on about the possible challenges such as battery life, and charge time but I would like to end off on a positive note.

The intention was obviously to expose students who would otherwise never get to use iPads to this technology in the hope that they would gain some valuable learning experiences in the process. For Apple SA itself it is a wonderful marketing exercise and nothing more. The onus would therefore be on the Library staff and the academics who intend using it to think creatively how to get the most out of this "first" for our institution. Hopefully provision will be made for tablet users of other brands in the near future.

Getting buy in

I have shared this blog with our student assistants. The idea is that they contribute to the body of knowledge that is generated. We should have some sort of prize to the one with the best contributions. I hope that everyone can contribute.

1st Blog ever!

Hey Everyone

Well these last couple have weeks have been great doing the flexible learning shoot and pod-casting training, Learned alotta new stuff nd can't wait to learn some more.