Mexico and Texas eLearning views by Jaime Villanueva

Despite the current violence and dismay in Mexico, technology has found its way into the educational system and several other entities in Mexico .Indeed most of the people in Mexico would like to fix the violence issue first as it is a national priority. Unfortunately, I do not foresee this happening anytime soon because there are no quick fixes in Mexico’s war on violence/ drugs. Although, the development of technology in Mexico may be the answer most people seek. The Current technology that is used in Mexico is probably the same as in the United States and the rest of the world. The challenge many Mexicans face is that in Mexico income inequality among the general population is a going issue. It is safe to say that in Mexico the middle class is almost not existence as it is in the United States .Fortunately, technology has found its way into the country like computers, cell phones; IPods, LCD TV’s and array of electronics are currently being used in Mexico

 In the Mexican classroom however technology and e-Learning can be described as a hit and miss. Yes, e-Learning is gathering momentum in Mexico but the reality is many public school districts in Mexico today have a limited amount of technology in the classroom. In contrasts, private schools in Mexico have the latest and greatest technology has to offer. Both the public and private school systems charge a tuition fee. There is no free education in Mexico every citizen in Mexico has to pay some type of tuition. This could be one of the causes why so many Mexican children stop going to school. As early as elementary school these students drop out of school because their families cannot pay the tuition.

 A decade ago e-Learning was nonexistence in Mexico but In 1989 Monterrey Institute of Technology (MIOT) broadcasted its first classes online (Lloyd, 2010). This was a mile stone for MIOT to reach and the front leader in e-learning in Mexico. MIOT online version has at least 22 master’s program and enrolled over 22,000 students to what is now called Virtual University (Lloyd, 2010). In 2002 MIOT signed an agreement with Southern Methodist University (SMU) which will enable undergraduate students from Mexico to take courses at SMU (Sterner,2002). SMU is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools better known as SACS (Sterner, 2002). Monterrey Institute of Technology By collaborating with SMU opens up new opportunities to students from Mexico not only in Education by jobs in the states. MIOT can be categorized as a leader in Mexico in e-learning and technology industry. The online degree programs in Mexico In the past twenty years have transformed and fuel a cultural shift towards technology. MIOT success has fueled other universities in Mexico to develop their online presence and build relationship with American Universities. This is why the Mexican government has developed strategic initiatives in order to expand educational programs in the classroom. One of the initiatives in Mexico is to provide families with monetary income in order to motivate the parents to send their children to school. While some initiatives have had some success there is still much more that needs to be done in Mexico in order to balance the technology issue in the classroom.

On the other hand, Texas can be considered a front leader in Technology integration in the classroom. The focus is to align and leverage the power of technology with the teachers and students in order to enrich their technological experience while in the classroom. The other priority is to strengthen the professional development of their teachers with online tools and integration of technological equipment in the classroom. Some of the front runners incorporating technology in the Rio Grande Valley are McAllen, La Feria and Brownsville ISD’S just to name a few. These school districts like many front runners in Texas have incorporate IPads and tablets in the classroom with much success. Local school districts voted to incorporate these technologies with every student in every class. According to region one website the benefits of the integration of technology in the classroom results are very promising and show test score improvements in math and science. By blending technology and pedagogy in the classroom will not only enhance teaching but classroom learning as well. The other benefits are the reduction of classroom planning and instructional time and ultimately reduce operational cost compared to traditional classrooms. Intergrading e-learning in the classroom is not an easy task as some students will resist because the lack of the necessary skills to succeed. However, the biggest resistance may come from teachers who hold traditional classroom values and are not very comfortable with technology.

Unfortunately, there are several draw backs when incorporating technology in the classroom. The first drawback is the lack of control by the teacher when students are surfing the internet for a class work assignment. Although, there are firewalls that the teacher can incorporate with the classroom equipment, the ease of student’s access to online tools to help them circumvent these firewalls is just another issue many teachers have to address. The second drawback is lack of student focus because of the multi stimulation by technology. Currently, students staying on task are an ongoing issue with most teachers, incorporating technology into the mix is just another factor most teachers would rather be without. The third issue is the orientation of technology with the student who recently arrived in Texas from Mexico. Having several orientation sessions throughout the year is not practical for the majority of Texas teachers. The final issue is theft and breakage of IPads. Yes, the majority of the students have signed contracts with their local ISD’s but how true will the ISD’s hold up those contracts when  students have mishaps with the equipment assigned.                              

Today’s students in both Mexico and Texas have opportunities to learn new learning strategies by incorporating the use of technologies in the classroom. The millennial generations in both sides of the border have the innate drive and know how to incorporate technology not only in the classroom but in their everyday lives. Unfortunately, digital equity in Mexico is a big concern for the most part because of the lack of funding. Texas and parts of Mexico have a lot in common with each other whether it is the culture, food, the Rio Bravo River but more importantly the students. A lot of these students have migrated from Mexico to Texas because their families come to work in labor intense jobs. The influx of students for Mexico has come with many challenges to school districts in Texas. The student’s lack of understanding the language, reading and writing in English are just some of the issues facing Texas school districts. Relocating to a new country is not an easy task to ask someone to do. Try to imagine learning a new language, able to speak it correctly and keep up with homework assignments can be overwhelming to some students. Realizing the issue is the first step but proving these students’ with adequate help with not only boost self-esteem but can probably impact state exam scores favorability.

The relationship between Mexico and Texas when it comes to students will be on going for the next ten years. Some of the school districts in the Rio Grande Valley have reported to have a large number of students whose first language is Spanish. By far the biggest challenge many school districts will face specifically school districts in the valley is to prepare these students for State exams (STARS) every year. Why? Because the Texas state funding is directly link to the students’ state test results (Horta, 2013). Poor Test results will effect state funding by being slashed because of poor results. Providing the necessary learning skills, tools and equipment are important for these students to have in order to have a chance in passing the state exam.  One quick solution can be as simple as to introduce e-learning content to current students. Statistics has proven that currently a large percentage of American students have access to the internet. Providing access to the students 24/ 7 to virtual classrooms will not only help the teacher deliver assignments but help students access school work from the comfort of their home. Providing students with necessary tools to succeed will not only help the student but also the entire American community. Going forward if Mexico and Texas where to collaborate and join forces just like SMU and MIOT did a decade ago, both countries specifically Texas will gain much more than just agreement. It could possibly be the envy of the world.         

References   

Horta, J. (2013, 02 12). Valley teacher testifies at texas school finance trial. ValleyCentral.com. Retrieved from http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=859799

Lloyd, M. (2010, June 16). Mexico's Monterrey tech pushes e-learning, as some worry it won't solve region's burgeoning need. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Mexicos-Monterrey-Tech-Pushes/65967/

Sterner, E. (2002, July 16). Smu signs agreement with Monterrey tech to begin visiting student program. Retrieved from http://smu.edu/newsinfo/releases/01364.html        

My Thoughts on EDCI 6336.01

I truly enjoy the class with Dr. Cornell ,that being said I completely understand the professors frustration with blackboard. I have had the same experiences with blackboard and with technology in general. A few months ago I was presenting a resume  live classroom info sessions and in the middle of the presentation  the computer all of sudden starts to shutting down without reason or cause. After the computer malfunction the issue I had was not having a  hard copy of my presentation as a backup. I had to wing it and I quickly realize I was losing my audience. It did however taught me lesson on being prepared not matter what because the unthinkable can always appear without warning.

 I am currently not frustrated with the class nor with Dr. Cornell because I truly understand the circumstance professor C is in. Technology to me as I have had my issues with it has taught me to be patient. I have witness an array of people lose it at the University when technology goes wacko on them. Some of my patrons get so frustrated with their electronic devices that they forget to do the simple things like check if it is plugged in or  just restart the computer. Simply task that they forget to do because they have had a mental break down because of frustration with media. It has happen to me a few times in the past a colleague will call me to help them with a  media issue and cannot believe all you had to do is plug it in to the wall. As crazy as it sounds it has happen to me in the past several times. 

It is my opinion, people need to realize that Technology is a tool with moving parts that will help us live easier lives. Things will go wrong people. However,  do not treat it like a living organism because it can never replace a human being nor the complexity of human life.

 The information on China  has been an eye opener to say the least. The information is very good and I have to say it has change my perception of China and the people in China. As far as technology, I think China has a long way to go to catch up with the United States not to say they cannot but it is highly unlikely in the next ten years. The reason I believe this is because in America we have the freedom to express, explore and have the option to seek information without consequence. This why we are not as complex  as the Chinese. The Chinese need to use different ways to seek information. In other words, their creativity is not nourished or openly accepted in China.

 Taiwan has been the biggest surprise in Dr. Cornell  lectures to me. I did not expect  how advance the Taiwanese are in technology and the high percent of educated people in Taiwan. I am also surprise with the large trade agreements with China and the United States. I do foresee Taiwan as an economic power house in the near future based on the fact that China and the United States having a strong relationship with Taiwan. I also believe why the economy and the educational system  has flourished in Taiwan is the  freedom of the press and expression. When people fell free they tend to do better than those who are oppressed no matter how small the repression is.               

My Distance Education Track Record

My distance education can be traced back to school of rock programs on the three channels we had at home. I can still recall the pliers we used to change the TV channels and boy that was challenging to say the least. We had no remote control for the television until a few years later we purchase a VHS recorder and let me tell you another world open up to us as VHS tapes was the latest and greatest in technology.

 For those students who do not know what school of rock is let me explain,it was a television program every Saturday morning with catchy songs. I learned multiplication, sentence structure, the constitution and an array of other subjects.The characters in School of Rock where cartoonist in nature but never the less very effect learning tool for most of us in the early 1980's.

I can still recall some of the songs from time to time. Just last week, I was signing one of the songs at the airport trying to be discrete about it and a  stranger at the airport commented to me who much he like the  the song in the late 1980's.I have very good memories of the school of rock television program. I have provide a link below of school of rock video.

I currently do utilize YouTube more frequently than I like to admit but when I need to learn a new skill or program at a moment’s notice YouTube is what I use. Last semester, I learned in another M.Ed. class the massive open online courses (MOOC).I was perplexed on how students enrolled for these courses I can only assume but I think it was a few thousands within every course. The problem is the completion rate was much lower than the enrollment rate with every MOOC course.   

 School of rock link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDWewnfL7QU

What are the possible explanation/reasons for people dropping out of MOOCs’ courses ?

The main reason why I believe the majority of the MOOC participants funnel out of the course is based on the fact that people start with good intention on finishing the course but have not committed in finishing the course from the beginning. As participants start the course it becomes apparent to them that the workload is much more than they had first anticipated. Additionally, the support they have in traditional classroom setting is not existent within a MOOC course program. The other factor is the majority of the MOOC courses are free and without any consequences if the participants dropout. I have also read discussion board comments from MOOC participant’s complaining about the lack of support and course direction.This is probably a result of participant’s high expectations about MOOC courses support system.Additionally,in traditional classrooms they have more classroom direction and support so the level of expectation is very high with MOOC participants. I have read statistical data on MOOC course dropout rate at 90 percent. Although the dropout rate is very high, I think the focus should be on the number of MOOC participants’ completion rate rather than the drop rate.

http://jvillan.the7greatliesofnetworkmarketing.com/?c=s120130_1

What advice would your give new college graduates?

Overwhelming, I would have to say be passionate about your future career.The main reason why you should be passionate about your job is because you are going to do this for a long time. Can you image doing a job for thirty years and you hate your job. I currently love my job but I realize there are people in this world that hate their job and are stuck because they have no other means of doing something else. While there are others who start a career for the wrong reasons specifically money and end up resenting their job because it does not fulfill their internal needs. In my opinion, when you love your job the money will come as an extra bonus. In my life time, I have encountered people who without asking I know love their job and it shows. Some of the side affects of loving your job, people are more productive, motivated and believe in the organizational mission statement. On the other hand, I have also encounter people who for a lack of a better word hate their job and it also shows.The sad reality is I have had a few bad experiences with these type of people that i rather forget about. I read an article a few years ago that indicated 60% of Americans hate their job. I cannot help but wonder if by some miracle, somehow convert at least half of these people into slightly liking their job how the economy could turn around for the better.