Here you will find snippets and links to some of my writing that I post on Medium.

Blackboard to Canvas Migration Final Report

Need

It is given that UNK will be using Canvas as the LMS of choice in the future. This will require that courses be migrated, rebuilt or newly created for use on Canvas. The scope of this project was minimized to include Online-only courses given by Dr. Fredrickson.

Action Plan

The following high-level plan was submitted and approved for completion:

https://medium.com/@mrrockford/blackboard-to-canvas-migration-final-report-ed3320267549

Title

Learning with Technology: A comparative study of technology platforms

Abstract

Online learning is becoming popular in education at all levels.  What we need to better understand is, under what conditions does computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) work better and how the technology platform used affects that learning and the collective perceptions of the used platform.  Districts usually decide on a single technology platform to be used in their schools.  This leads to a possible problem in that with the current acceptable technology, no single platform is acknowledged as best suited to provide students and teachers with the best opportunity to learn and teach.  Two experienced certified Google Apps for Education teachers and 30 students that self-enrolled in both English Composition and Algebra were randomly assigned to three study groups.  Each group was given a different device to use during the semester.  The platforms used were an iPad, a Samsung Chromebook and a Windows laptop.  It is hypothesized that the Samsung Chromebook is the best suited platform to use in a computer supported collaborative learning classroom.    

Throughout the semester long study, surveys and questionnaires were conducted to gather the thoughts and experiences of individual students.  An extensive end of semester interview was conducted to gather overall review of each platform used by the students and their thoughts on which platform provided them with the best learning opportunity.  Each student was required to use each of the three available platforms throughout the entire semester.  After each assessment test, students were interviewed to gather information on the platform used.  Additionally, the teachers were also interviewed to gather information from their point of view on the technology used in each area of study. The results of the study confirmed that the Samsung Chromebook is currently the best platform available for use in computer supported collaborative learning.  

https://medium.com/@mrrockford/learning-with-technology-a-comparative-study-of-technology-platforms-6af10232f33f