Rafael A. Espinozaprofesor

Nueva etapa de trabajo

2011-06-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Saludos colegas y amigos estudiantes:

De regreso por acá después de 5 años fuera del país en un gusto poder compartir información , colaborar con ustedes. En lo que necesiten aquí estamos y seguimos adelante.
Saludos
Rafa.

Web. 2.0 challenges and Possibilities

2009-04-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
I want to share and collaborate with the notions of web 2.0 and share resources and tools available on the Web:
Lets start with the questions:
1. What is Web 2.0?
2. What are the challenges and opportunities?

online learning communities exploration

2007-10-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm
MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) has created a variety of Community resources categorized by discipline and program area to provide users with different types of materials for teaching and learning. Community Portals provide MERLOT members with differentiated information about exemplary teaching strategies professional associations, journals, conferences, and other resources for continuous professional development.
It is useful for teaching at the university level, high school, and those who are interesting in using technologies in the classroom.

The main type of interaction of this community is asynchronous. As I went through the WebPages, they were very friendly and easy to find out all the materials and the categories presented at the main web page. Thus, I feel that the type of interaction support the goals or purpose of the community (to share knowledge).
The best quality of the community in terms of interaction is the ergonomic of the web page. The ergonomic of the page is really creative and well done. What I mean is that if we apply the concept of ergonomic as the science of people-machine relationships (Answers.com). An ergonomically designed webpage implies that the WebPages are easy to go through in a very friendly environment.
The interface has a high quality of usability. All these factors are related to the web site design and connected to ergonomic design.
I become a member of MERLOT community. More than changes, I would add a synchronous tool such as “chat”. Thus, any time that I log in, I may have the opportunity for chatting with some colleagues that they send me invitation for join their discussions (if they are available at that moment, or any chat room that I want to participate).

Classroom 2.0.
http://classroom20.ning.com/
Classroom 20 is a social networking and the purpose of the community is for those interested in Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in education.
The main type of interaction of this community is asynchronous. Mainly: discussions board, emails among members, forums, discussion groups, Blog Posts.The main goal of the community is to foster social networking. One feature that I found very interesting is the use of Ning Plattform (www.ning.com), the self-described “software equivalent of Home Depot,” making it a snap to create your own social network.

The best quality is the opportunity of any member to share any time: materials, videos, readings, blogs. One of the features that I believe is the most exacting and allows teacher to create content is Ning in Education. Ning is an online platform for creating social websites and social networks. I personally create my and you may see it on: http://education.ning.com/profile/RafaelEspinoza
Finally, more than changes, I would add a synchronous tool such as “chat”. Thus, any time that I log in, I may have the opportunity for chatting with some colleagues that they send me invitation for join their discussions (if they are available at that moment, or any chat room that I want to participate). It would be interesting especially if you find teachers from different places around the world.
http://education.ning.com/profile/RafaelEspinoza?viewAsOther=1

Reference
Edutopia.(October, 2007). Classroom 2.0. 3(7).

Powerpoint presentation about Praxis and Reflexivity in online learning

2007-09-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/rafa-13956-praxis-reflexivity-online-teaching-reactions-praxisand-education-ppt-powerpoint/

The Importance concerning Reflection of Our Online Practices

2007-09-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

As educadors, an specially as online educators (facilitadors, learning facilitadors) we are call to reflect upon our educational online practices.

Here, some importat points to start this reflection about our online praxis:

1. What is praxis ? Think about it? Write your definition
How is our practice in our online learning communities?

Reflective practice is an umbrella term for thoughtful and analytical thinking about one’s own practice.
This appears in different perspectives, ideologies and conceptions of a reflective practitioner
It is opposed to the view of teachers as technicians
It enhances ‘teacher generated epistemology’ or knowing-in-action.

When to reflect?: before, during, after online teaching and learning process?

Reflective Practice: Different ideological views

So, what kind of practice do we want for our future community of learners?

SomeCosta Rica's pictures

2007-09-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Some personal information (InformaciónPersonal)

2007-09-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

I have been in the field of education since 1987. My early years in the field include teaching elementary first through fifth grades. My academic preparation began in 1986 at the National University of Costa Rica (NUCR). I received a B.S in Elementary Education in 1989. I also obtained a B.S in Educational Administration. During the time that I was studying I was working as a full time elementary teacher in Costa Rica San Jose’s school district.
I began my work in higher education at the National University of Costa Rica teaching methodology courses for elementary teachers. My work included teaching classes in curriculum development, research in the classroom and coordinating student field experience.
I obtained my Master’s degree of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and minor in Educational Management.
In 1993, after I finished my Master Degree at New Mexico State University, I became a full professor in the department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at the National University of Costa Rica.
I provided numerous workshops and short-courses to teachers within Costa Rica and across all Central America, to bilingual educators. So, I become an international workshop facilitator in: El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Chile, Argentina, Jerusalem, Mexico and United States. In June of 2001, I was higher as Curriculum Development Consultant in an International USA organization, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA (www.iica.int)). This institution has 34 offices in the hemisphere, which are working to meet the needs of the countries in areas such as: agricultural health, technology and innovation; education and training; information and communication. I developed capacities of in training stakeholders in rural areas through technology such as videoconference, internet and CD-ROM.
In this globalized world, getting in touch with international professors will be an added value for my country to share knowledge and build capacities.

In the last 3 year I have been doing consulting on designing learning enviroments throught Internet. Thus, I was the coordinator of an international project in South America.
I hold a doctoral degree in Research in Education. In 2010.. I graduated with a Ph.D in Learning Technologies.