Learning Joomla
Posted by Lois on September 26, 2009
There’s nothing like learning something new to remind you of what your students might be feeling or to refresh your pedagogical practice. The post below is linked to the Wikipedia article for Constructivism (learning theory). I wrote the reflection first and was surprised that my learning experience linked easily with the article’s explanation to the nature of constructive learning
LEARNING JOOMLA
I decided to teach myself how to use the Content Management System, Joomla for a number of reasons – I needed a new way to present the school web page, it fits in with my Master of Education studies in Online Education, I was curious how Content Management Systems work and it gave me a chance to be involved in active learning.
For me it has been a typical learning experience (responsibility for learning) in that I experienced the whole range of feelings and thoughts when faced with a challenge:
- at first it was all too hard
- I doubted the point of it and wondered if I should change topics
- I struggled to find the right information
- I had to change my preconceived views of what I could do (background and culture of learner)
As my daughter walked past and heard me exclaim “This is too hard!” she repeated the message I had always told her while working on her maths problems “If it is too hard then maybe you are going about it in the wrong way.” My experience was that math problems have a way of working out if you are on the right track so if it is too long and complicated you’re probably barking up the wrong tree. As it turns out, it was good advice and along with this blog (quoted below) that helped me see that I was trying to change something that wasn’t meant to be changed.
“Joomla? Getting the right modules (in Drupal “blocks”) in the right place on template can be nothing short of a nightmare, especially if you get things set up in one template and then decided to try another template.”
I had to “accommodate” my approach and look for a simpler way to start to get to know Joomla. I stopped trying to change how Joomla should look (at least for now) and concentrated on the content.
Gradually as I learned to place content I learned more about Joomla in total and I developed a better understanding of the other features. I felt I was beginning to make progress, but with each step
- I needed to practice it more than once,
- I needed a lot of instruction (online tutorials)
- repeating it helped me to understand the concepts and relationships
- success led to more success
- as I mastered certain aspects I really wanted to share that knowledge. (It reminds me so much of my classroom where the students want to share everything they have done which is one of the reasons why it is important to have class blogs).
MENTAL MODEL – LEARNING CURVE
My mental model of the “learning curve”, is that it isn’t a curve at all. It starts pretty much as a steep cliff face where there is lots of input that doesn’t necessarily make sense and so progress is very slow. You need motivation, perseverance and stick-ability at this stage to keep going. The next stage is a little less steep but progress is still slow and input at the “zone of proximal development” is required. Eventually however you reach the stage where you get some momentum and you move along much more quickly and the knowledge you have already acquired is useful in learning new modules. Finally you come to the top of the learning mountain where you have enough skills and background to use intuitive learning to add new knowledge quickly.
I think it is important to have mental model of learning so that you know what to expect and understand the range of feelings that a challenge will evoke. It is important to know that if you keep going the odds are that you will learn.
September 26th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lois Smethurst. Lois Smethurst said: New blog post: Learning Joomla http://bit.ly/1wjdFQ [...]
September 26th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
[...] Loisath-My ICT Journey » Blog Archive » Learning Joomla By admin | category: Object | tags: learning-something, pedagogical, post-below, students, [...]
September 27th, 2009 at 3:50 am
Hi Lois,
I know exactly what you mean. I sometimes forget that I struggled to work out the intracacies of a blog and yet now it seems second nature – the options are so obvious – and I wonder why people I’m showing can;’t see them. I attempted to have a look at Joomla about 2 weeks ago, but got stuck working out how to get started ie using a server or just my own computer. I decided I’d look later. With 2 weeks holiday just started, perhaps ‘later’ is now. Fingers crossed I can get further than before.
Regards, Colin
[Reply]
Lois Reply:
September 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Hi Colin
Thanks for the comment. When I help my staff get started on blogs I find that I assume so much background knowledge and it amazes me of the things they think of while they are trying to make sense of blogging. I’m a little bit better prepared for that now and try to explain things very carefully.
I’m working with Joomla on my own computer. My techie installed it for me and thinks that it is easier just to copy it over to a server when it has been set up. Joomla and I have a working relationship now but we’re not quite friends yet.There is still a long way to go but I like the features it has to offer so I will persevere.
Good luck with your learning experience.
cheers
Lois
[Reply]
September 28th, 2009 at 1:05 am
[...] more here: Loisath-My ICT Journey » Blog Archive » Learning Joomla Share and [...]
October 14th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Hi Lois,
I’m heartened by your comments – currently learning Joomla too for my school’s website! Loved your animation too. Your post has helped centre where I’m at in the Joomla learning process.
Cheers!
Jenny
[Reply]
Lois Reply:
October 17th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Hi Jenny
Its great to hear from you. Joomla has been a challenge but I am pleased with the result and I am beginning to see how it is all going to come together. This is the site I’ve been working on http://www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au/. It’s not finished but functional for now. And this is a link to the web site that has some resources etc… on it that you might find useful. http://loetwyn.globalteacher.org.au/
Lois
[Reply]
October 31st, 2009 at 4:21 am
Hi Lois
Firstly, greetings from Oz… Sydney, Australia that is! Still amazes me that I can read the learning journal of someone from the other side of the world! Also, may I say how much I enjoy reading your blog… you write beautifully.
How’s Joomla going? I have no idea how you fit that learning in with all your other pursuits! Sounds like a lot of late nights! My husband needed Joomla for his business website update and we were just lucky that he had some great tech support from his host!
It’s interesting how your perspective changes when you set yourself these challenges.
I was at a school training this week with the trainer explaining where Web 2.0 can fit on Bloom’s Taxonomy. The audience was a room full of high school teachers and covered the full spectrum of technology abilities in a school staff, and she explained how setting up and maintaining a blog would fulfil the highest level requirements of thinking skills. I put my hand up and explained that my Grade 3 son had been running a blog for months… all he did was set up an account on google and follow instructions (all in his internet alias identity of course!). It won’t surprise you to know his blog is about online games!
I was thinking “What’s higher order about that?” but I suspect it is more about perspective and experience, and I have begun to better appreciate the range of skills he has already acquired – which many of the teachers in that room have no experience with!
Food for thought for me…
Regards, Deb
[Reply]
Lois Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:45 am
Hi Deb
Thank you very much for your comment and kind thoughts.
It is amazing how easily kids take to blogging. It seems like a natural form of communication for them. I think teachers really will have to come to grips with it as a part of the regular classroom practice to help keep students engaged and excited about learning.
Once again thank you for leaving a comment, it is very encouraging.
Lois
[Reply]