Learning Through Online Delivery

What the Experts SayDr. Margo Burns

Dr. Helen Prosser

What are we going to do today?

What do you think is unique about learning online?

What skills do you think is needed to teach online?

How should material be designed for online delivery?

What should an Online Learning Environment look like?

REFLECTION QUESTION

Throughout this present, please reflect on the following questions:

What do you think is unique about learning online?

How can online learners be actively engaged?

Teaching Online: Is Anything Unique?

Who has taught or taken a course online? What skills do you think is needed to teach online? How should material be designed for online delivery? Experts say:

well designed learning materials and support entertaining and enriching learning experiences active participation by the learner self-assessment to build confidence and competence

Hmmmm… do we strive to do what the experts say? can these 4 recommendations be done within an online learning environment?

Teaching Online: Is Anything Unique?

LET’S EXPLORE HOW THESE 4 RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE PUT INTO PRACTICE

#1: Well designed learning materials & support

The design of an online course “can either facilitate or impede the learning process”

Develop & Structure the Learning Environment

Example

Opening the Course

Opening the Course

Create an initial impression that will stimulate development of the learning community and nuture the students to maturity Welcome e-mail and announcement

• Have fewer assignments in week 1 to allow for technical issues to be dealt with

• Provide information to the help desk Introductions

• Spend week 1 getting to know your students and each other Emphasize the Syllabus Establish a Tone of Excellence

Course Design Can Save Time…

Design with Appropriate Use of Technology

Achieve balance between presentation and content Good courses have multimedia and strong use of technology

Use technology appropriately You want students to spend their time learning the course content, not the new

technology Establish a Time Framework

Design your units with some time framework Students then know what to expect and can get into a weekly routine

Personalize Little touches make a huge difference in how a student views the learning environment Your online “voice” will come through

Incorporate student feedback Consider student feedback in redesigning parts of your course

Develop & Structure the Learning Environment

Overview of Material

Structured Learning Environment

Navigation Instruction

Design for Different Learning Styles

Discussion

Lecture

Demonstration

Self-discovery

Develop & Structure the Learning Environment

Overview of Material

Structured Learning Environment

Navigation Instruction

Design for Different Learning Styles

Discussion

Lecture

Demonstration

Self-discovery

Discussion

Lecture

Demonstration

Self-discovery

#2 Entertaining & Enriching Learning Experiences

Explore LMS: http://moodle.nlc.ca/mymoodle/

#3 Active Participation by the Learner

What do we mean by this?

#3 Active Participation by the Learner

Require Participation Set aside a portion of the grade Recommended 30 to 40%

Form Learning Teams Make the Activity Interesting

Appeal to life experiences, vested interests Let students have choice of activities/projects

Don’t Settle For Just Opinions Insist that opinions be supported by data and rational discourse Re-examine/summarize at the end of a discussion

#3 Active Participation by the Learner

Structure the Activity Topics should not be open-ended Force learners through the design of the activities to fully participate

Require a “Hand-in Assignment” (Deliverable) Do something besides just expressing ideas and opinions

Know What You are Looking For & Involve Yourself to Help Make it Happen Know the quality of the work you are looking for and express this in the

assignment directions Participate in the discussions, chats, activities by providing

• Extensive critique, feedback, and encouragement Peer Grading

Helps produce quality work

#3 Active Participation by the Learner

Remember…

Students have a job to do; namely, learn. Learning is best accomplished when the learner is actively engaged in the process.

Discussion Boards

Live Discussions

#4 Self-Assessment to build confidence and Competence

Online assessment can be…and should be…much more interactive then traditional face-to-face assessments.

Interactive Games Quizzes Test Your Knowledge

Interactive Activity: Library Assignment

REFLECTION QUESTION

Look back at the 2 reflection questions

What do you think is unique about learning online?

How can online learners be actively engaged?

Has Anything Changed For You?