Justin K Miller

This probably should have been under my list of things that were to have been done yesterday. But what was put off yesterday might as well be done today. So the focus of my thesis is now directed at the undergraduate unpaid intern (that’s about as focused as I can get). In my old University this might have been called Work Integrated Learning. But here in America I think most people know what an unpaid intern is. And forget the summer interships. I’m talking about the person that takes a full semester to go and work in their field with no pay, yet still paying tuition so they get credit for the chance to work in their field for free.

Paying a school to give you an opportunity to work full-time for free. Well you better damn well be sure the work you’ll be doing is worth the price of admission. And I should think the school aught to assist in the process. Can you not be in a college program and get an internship at a company? Maybe. But often they require you be enrolled somewhere getting credit for the internship.

As I contemplate this I must admit I’m a little bitter from my own experience. As a junior in college I took the winter semester to do an internship in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the A/V Department of Amway Corporation. I paid the school for the 6-credit internship during which I worked 40-hours a week and sometimes more for 6-months. I was one of the lucky few in the world as I was paid $12.50 an hour. Not a bad wage for 1996 in the mid-west.

However, moving to a new city alone in the middle of winter with no social network was a challenge. The only direction I had for the internship was a weekly review by my superiors at work and the 10-page paper I had to write when it was all over. Often I found myself confused on the job, trying to figure out what it was I was to be doing or learning. Looking back at the experience 14 years later I can see the mistakes I made and what I could have done to make the most out of what actually was a great opportunity that I squandered.

I do think new media technology offers great opportunities in helping to make the most of internships. The focus of using iPhones and Facebook may be unnecessary, but I’m trying to find the easiest tools for the job. I think the media project proposal on this will have to be a presentation of utilizing tools. Either from the perspective of a student, or the perspective of the lecturer who guides the students during their internship. Okay, maybe both. Time to write the proposal.

In a nutshell my thesis is this. In college you do an internship, go off campus, and basically disconnect from the college academic and social network. Your main connection is often one dude in the department whose annoying side job is to make sure you are learning something during the internship. This is done by e-mails and a paper you have to write at the end of the semester showing your time was not wasted. If the dude from the department really cares, they might meet with you once a week, assuming your internship is close to campus. They may even have you meet in a group with others doing similar internships so you can support each other. But all that could be a waste of your time as a student trying to do an unpaid 40-hour a week job.

While I fully endorse experiential learning, not to mention real world experience in your field, off campus support tends to be difficult. Students need help during internships. They need to be take a minute to reflect on the experience, what they learned from it, compare notes with others, or get guidance to make sure the experience is something of value. But time is money. It can’t be spent in group sessions, driving to group sessions, meeting with a lecturer an hour away, spending hours writing emails, etc.

What I’m suggesting is an experience video blog attached to an online support group. Every day a student takes 1-2 minutes to video blog about the learning experience. Other experiential learning students and the teacher can make comments to help encourage, suggest, or direct. Students can post pics, audio, and even write about whatever they are doing if they want. But the video journal is a quick way to reflect each day in a comfortable environment. And if done on Facebook, students contact each other by chat, mail, and the multiple modes available. They are their own network.

The iPhone facbook app is pretty sweet. You can basically video blog from anywhere and upload images and text. I tested it out while driving on Route 66 this winter. The intergration of an RSS feed for each student would also assist the instructor in the process of guiding students. Webcams work as well, but are a little limiting.

Okay, what does this mean for the media project? How about a video presentation for the teacher, not the student? A way to show the department the benefits something like this would bring to the department. I’d love to do a website, but the network itself on facebook would be the website. PLE’s could do this as well, but frankly facebook and youtube can support the video requirements way better than most providers could. So perhaps creating a video presentation in a step-by-step web guide might be best.

source:

Image: Facebook for iPhone, Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6628568379 retrieved on February 8, 2009

1. It’s All Invented

Unemployment is an opportunity, not a problem. Years from now when I tell the story of how my wife and I returned to America after my great adventure in Vietnam, it will be a story of my own invention. And how the story unfolds will be determine by the things I do now. For many, unemployment in this economy is assumed to be a negative thing. I see it as a positive, giving me more time to work on this degree, help my wife adjust to a new culture, and research different career paths.

2. Stepping into a Universe of Possibility

I hate the rat race. Keeping up with the Joneses. The materialism of our culture. Trying to “make it” in a “dog-eat-dog” world. At the same time I think I just maxed out my credit card at Best Buy this week. Hey I wanted it, and now I have it. I won’t be confined by catchphrases, or my opinions of them. Don’t assume that means I’m a hypocrite. My dad always told me that if you “assume,” you just make an ASS out of both U and ME. You can’t box me in.

3. Giving an A

I’m my own worst enemy, a greater critic of myself than anyone around me. As a teacher I’m critical of the grades I give to others since I’m the once grading and I need to make sure I give a proper evaluation. While this post is full of the positive optimism, which reeks from the book, the pessimist pulls at the edges. The optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true.

Still, I’m working at that “A” is for Awesome perspective. But I’m starting to feel I’m in jeopardy. After four months of unemployment, you begin to freak out. The survival instinct kicks in. But I still tell myself unemployment is an opportunity, not a problem.

After moving back from Vietnam with a long 90 day stint in Detroit and then a few days on Route 66 over the West Coast, I am now home in cold, yet not so sunny San Francisco. That was January. It took another month to get all the things we needed and moved into our place. Painting was involved. Here at the start of February, my wife and I can begin our new life in America jobless. Let the fun begin.

So when this first week of February started I was wide awake and ready to get back to my thesis. It needed tweaking and completing. But on the 1st of February nothing was setup by Full Sail. FSO has no answers. 2nd comes around and I’m given a class they now teach in the first month. 3rd and they finally get me in my on-online course development class. Only wait a second. This isn’t what I was told it was gonna be. It looks like the Media Asset Creation class. And it is, kinda. I have to have my thesis completed already? We’re working on a media project? Due Monday? I misses the wimba? Let me listen to it again!

I’m freaking. Can’t breath. Need to relax and take it one step at a time. Good thing my thesis relates to being thrown to the wolves like this. I would think there’s got to be a few people who are in my shoes. It seems like most of the class is already in a better position than I am to be taking this class. Oh, right. They’re mostly teachers with jobs who did the project over the course of the last few months. I knew I should have stayed away longer. I just don’t feel ready. But I need to finish this degree and go get a job.

Tomorrow I need to hand in the Content Proposal. Things have changed since September 2, 2009 when I was working on video game ideas. I wish I could have discussed this during the Wimba on Tuesday. There were some great concepts I would have loved to hear more about. Mine is on experiential learning used in off-campus programs by higher education and the role online networks and video blogging can play in enhancing this type of education. More on that as things progress.

Source:

Image: Experiential Learning Cycle, Inroads Consulting Group, http://www.sauerbraten.org/docs/cube2logo.png retrieved on September 2, 2009.

While this has nothing to do with anything, I found this video totally amusing and had to share. Okay, now I shared and I have to go to sleep. Laterz.

So last week Van and I got a used 2008 Ford Escape while staying with my parents in Farmington Hills, Michigan. I’m pretty psyched about it since I searched online for about three weeks before selecting the vehicle. The whole Ford certified pre-owned thing was a big deal for me, as well as not taking the federal government bail out like the rest. I’ve been wanting an all black SUV with fog lights, a sun roof, and all black leather interior for like forever. Now I have it. I rule.

Now I just need to get my iPhone working the way I want it to when connected to the sound system. That and an automated Mountain Dew IV drip.

We pick up this bad boy, which we found out later came with a remote starter (more toys!) and 6 year warranty, then drove to the airport to get Van’s sister. She was psyched to come down from Boston to spend Thanksgiving with us. And that’s just what we did.

The next day we went over to my sister’s for Thanksgiving with a family that just keeps getting bigger. Curtis mentioned he had never seated 10 at his table until today, so it was a big occasion. This kids enjoyed having everyone around, and we all took a few moments to make weird faces into the cameras to remember for the rest of our lives. It was a good day.

It’s great for Van and I to have this time to spend with family now. Really nice to see my niece and nephews. Van is hoping we can have one someday soon. And Madison is his hoping that means we can adopt her older brother Joseph. Probably not going to happen, but she can dream.

After that we got read for the blessing ceremony. The whole extended family from both sides of my parents showed up for it. Along with a couple of my close friends. It was nice. It went well. Everyone was happy. I wish I could have eaten more. I hear the tri-tips were really good. Anyway I was looking pretty good in my white suit, so what more can you ask for. Pictures soon to follow.

Sunday everyone left. Monday Van’s sister went back to Boston and a niece and nephew came over to start decorations. Tuesday we had my mom’s birthday celebration, before they leave for Florida. Wednesday I can’t remember much of. I think my life flashed before me at some point. I’m teaching Van to drive. Enough said. Thursday we picked up the plates from the dealer, and then it snowed.

This is Van’s first snow. So for about 10 minutes she got a white winter wonderland introduction. And then the snow stopped. I’m so glad I have a remote starter for the SUV. It will be nice when I can pre-warm the thing before we have to go somewhere. Hmmm . . . I need a name for my SUV. Any ideas?

Full Sail University EDM641 Learning Management Systems and Organization
November 2009 Miller, Justin
Chapter 2: The Future is in Personalized Learning Environments

References:

Anderson, T. (2006). PLE’s versus LMS: Are PLEs ready for Prime time? Virtual Canuck: Teaching and Learning in a Net-Centric World. Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://terrya.edublogs.org/2006/01/09/ples-versus-lms-are-ples-ready-for-prime-time/

Attwell, G. & Pontydysgu. (2007). Personal Learning Environments – the future of eLearning? eLearning Papers. Vol 2, No 1. Retrieved on November 22, 2009 from http://www.elearningeuropa.info/files/media/media11561.pdf

Attwell, G. (2008). Schools Out – Personal Learning Environments. YouTube. Retrieved on November 17, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWjA-rT3jfk

Downes, S. (2008). Personal Learning Environments. Delivered to Brandon Hall Innovations in Learning 2008, San Jose, California. Retrieved on November 15, 2009 from http://www.downes.ca/presentation/198

ELI (2009). 7 things you should know about . . . Personal Learning Environments. Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved November 22, 2009 from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7049.pdf

Farmer, J. (2006). Blog as Personal Learning Environments. HigherEd BlogCon. Retrieved on November 16, 2009 from http://www.higheredblogcon.com/teaching/farmer/screencast/higheredblogconple.html

Lubensky, R. (2007). Personal Learning Environments: What They Are And How To Implement Them. Master New Media. Retrieved on November 16, 2009 from http://www.masternewmedia.org/learning_educational_technologies/learning-environments/PLE-personal-learning-environments-present-future-20070615.htm

Schaffert, S. & Hilzensauer, W. (2008) On the way towards Personal Learning Environments: Seven crucial aspects. eLearning Papers. No9. Retrieved on November 22, 2009 from www.elearningeuropa.info/files/media/media15971.pdf

Full Sail University EDM641 Learning Management Systems and Organization
November 2009 Miller, Justin
Chapter 1: Written Driver License Sample Tutorial for California

Continuing to on with my thesis.

12 days later I have turned back to my plan of civic engagement, or rather individual and collective actions by community college students as part of class assignments designed to identify and address issues of public concern for the area of Detroit.

My problem/deficiency I see in the classroom/workplace, is the lack of interest by students in the local community to take an active role and researching and addressing problems of that community. As one initiative by the Michigan government is to create incentives for the film industry to do business in Detroit, my solution to the problem rooted in educational technology was to introducing video documentary production as part of the standard curriculum. This can introduce civic engagement, is a great form of unrealized educational technology, and helps train students for a new in a new industry.

Some of my thought here is that when people in a community looks for solutions to an economic crisis, they turn to education. And while an educated society is great, most of the educated go where the jobs are. That’s not in Detroit. To get them to stay, they need to take an interest in the community and have a voice within that community which can effect change for the better. No one wants to stay in a place where there is no future. But if you see possibility, opportunity, and a better life for your family, things start to change. I think video documentary production can do that.

I would love to see a website made by students in Detroit on stories of Detroit and their views of saving the city, rather than ones made my CNN.

I was doing my regular surfing the net for new material to use in my thesis, which I still haven’t figured out after two weeks of serious work. I came upon this slide show. When I hit slide 9, I got a big smile. The guy was holding a Canon 1014 XL-S Super 8mm Motion Picture Camera. I don’t think the majority of people who know anything about wikis know what that camera is. But I thought it was pretty sweet to see. Plus I totally loved how the slide show talked about uses of digital media by the instructor, and by the student. But the camera was till by far the coolest part.