Three Tools of Online Career & Three Tools of Online Career & Technical EducationTechnical Education

Sam Cotton Sam Cotton scotton@bsu.eduscotton@bsu.edu

Jim FlowersJim Flowersjcflowers1@bsu.edujcflowers1@bsu.edu

web.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/pres/3tools.pptDecember, 2003

Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA

Our ContextsOur Contexts

Higher educationHigher education Online coursesOnline courses Blackboard Course ManagementBlackboard Course Management

Two Online MastersTwo Online Masters

MA in Career & MA in Career & Technical Technical EducationEducation

MA in Technology MA in Technology EducationEducation

www.bsu.edu/iandtwww.bsu.edu/iandt

Your Context?Your Context?

Who has taken an online class?Who has taken an online class? Who has taught an online class?Who has taught an online class? Who has taught using:Who has taught using:

– ChatChat– Threaded DiscussionsThreaded Discussions– Original Web PagesOriginal Web Pages

Three Tools of Online Career & Three Tools of Online Career & Technical EducationTechnical Education

ChatroomsChatrooms Threaded discussionsThreaded discussions Webpage creationWebpage creation

(Basic and Advanced)(Basic and Advanced)

Reasons for considering these Reasons for considering these three toolsthree tools

Common Online Instructional ToolsCommon Online Instructional Tools Low CostLow Cost Highly InteractiveHighly Interactive Powerful Cognitive ToolsPowerful Cognitive Tools

ChatroomChatroom

Live (synchronous) Live (synchronous) text-based text-based discussiondiscussion

Permanent Permanent discussion archivediscussion archive

Chatroom AdvantagesChatroom Advantages

Familiar to today’s studentsFamiliar to today’s students Live interactionLive interaction

– Social interactionSocial interaction– Personalized feedbackPersonalized feedback– Fast dialogFast dialog– TimelyTimely– Immediate decision makingImmediate decision making

MultitaskingMultitasking An archive may be createdAn archive may be created Scheduled meeting timesScheduled meeting times

Example: Online Office HoursExample: Online Office Hours

Chatroom DisadvantagesChatroom Disadvantages

Scheduled meeting timesScheduled meeting times Can be unruly with many chattersCan be unruly with many chatters Side discussions can be distractingSide discussions can be distracting Conversation may occur too fastConversation may occur too fast Delay time for answersDelay time for answers Scrolling can remove information from Scrolling can remove information from

viewview Content organized by time, not meaningContent organized by time, not meaning

Typical Chatroom ProceduresTypical Chatroom Procedures

Schedule meeting timeSchedule meeting time– Dictate a time; orDictate a time; or– Determine times from student schedulesDetermine times from student schedules

Prepare content, thoughts, and planPrepare content, thoughts, and plan Instruct students on proceduresInstruct students on procedures

– Find those who are lostFind those who are lost Start the conversation; ask questions; Start the conversation; ask questions;

introduce content; charge learners to introduce content; charge learners to respondrespond

Provide closureProvide closure

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

TimeoutsTimeouts Slow typistsSlow typists

– InstructorInstructor– StudentsStudents

Delay time, and confusionDelay time, and confusion Grammar, spellingGrammar, spelling MisunderstandingsMisunderstandings Some groups may need a leaderSome groups may need a leader Unsure of netiquette Unsure of netiquette

– CAPS, punctuation, etc.CAPS, punctuation, etc.

Problem: TimeoutsProblem: Timeouts

““AOL disconnected me!”AOL disconnected me!”

Reset your timeout durationReset your timeout duration Open a second browser windowOpen a second browser window (Timeouts are problematic for chats, (Timeouts are problematic for chats,

tests, & large discussion board tests, & large discussion board comments.)comments.)

Problem: Slow Typists & Delay timeProblem: Slow Typists & Delay time

InstructorInstructor• Prepare main points in advance for cut and Prepare main points in advance for cut and

paste.paste. StudentsStudents

• ““It’s okay.”It’s okay.”• Provide tools to simplifyProvide tools to simplify

Abbreviations (LOL, IMHO, TIA, tks)Abbreviations (LOL, IMHO, TIA, tks) Phrases (ditto)Phrases (ditto) Ellipses …Ellipses … Naming the addresseeNaming the addressee

Example: ConversationExample: Conversation

Example: ConversationExample: Conversation

Problem: Grammar, spellingProblem: Grammar, spelling

• ““Lighten up.”Lighten up.”• Errors can be expected in real time.Errors can be expected in real time.• ““If erroneous, you can rewrite.”If erroneous, you can rewrite.”

Problem: MisunderstandingsProblem: Misunderstandings

Be careful with humor.Be careful with humor. Clarify terminology.Clarify terminology. Help students with the precision of Help students with the precision of

their wording.their wording. Choose wording that does not Choose wording that does not

depend on body language or depend on body language or inflection.inflection.

Use emoticons. ;-) Use emoticons. ;-)

Problem: Some discussion groups Problem: Some discussion groups may need a leadermay need a leader

Instructor may guide the discussion.Instructor may guide the discussion. A group leader can be assigned.A group leader can be assigned. Other discussion roles can be Other discussion roles can be

assigned.assigned.

Problem: Unsure of netiquette Problem: Unsure of netiquette CAPS, punctuation, etc.CAPS, punctuation, etc.

Refer students to glossaries.Refer students to glossaries. Put extra effort into setting an example for Put extra effort into setting an example for

students.students. Provide constructive criticism, possibly Provide constructive criticism, possibly

privately.privately. Suggest alternative communication Suggest alternative communication

strategies or media.strategies or media.

Sample Emoticons & AcronymsSample Emoticons & Acronymsfrom www.sharpened.netfrom www.sharpened.net

Using chatrooms with other toolsUsing chatrooms with other tools

WhiteboardWhiteboard SlideshowSlideshow Sound & other Sound & other

mediamedia Group browserGroup browser

Chatroom Tool: Group BrowserChatroom Tool: Group Browser

But…But…

Chatroom discussions are Chatroom discussions are chronologically organized.chronologically organized.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they were Wouldn’t it be nice if they were organized by ideas?organized by ideas?

Threaded DiscussionThreaded Discussion www.webct.com/exemplary/viewpage?name=exemplary_2002_halaskawww.webct.com/exemplary/viewpage?name=exemplary_2002_halaska

Establishing discussion boardsEstablishing discussion boards

Size, usability, topicSize, usability, topic Anonymity?Anonymity? Student rightsStudent rights Helping students learn to use it wellHelping students learn to use it well

Example: Whole-class discussionExample: Whole-class discussion

Problem: A 20" wide mirror is to be Problem: A 20" wide mirror is to be installed on the wall of the men’s faculty installed on the wall of the men’s faculty lounge at a high school. Please assume lounge at a high school. Please assume that those using the mirror will be that those using the mirror will be typical high school teachers. Using typical high school teachers. Using anthropometric measurements, anthropometric measurements, determine the minimal length (i.e., determine the minimal length (i.e., height) and wall position of the mirror so height) and wall position of the mirror so that 90% of this population can view that 90% of this population can view their entire height.their entire height.

Graphic SupportGraphic Support

Example: Cooperative and Example: Cooperative and collaborative teamscollaborative teams

Fall, 2000 Online Class (Rose, 2002)Fall, 2000 Online Class (Rose, 2002)– web.bsu.edu/arose/Vita/MAROSE.pdfweb.bsu.edu/arose/Vita/MAROSE.pdf

3 Collaborative groups3 Collaborative groups– Infrequent MonitoringInfrequent Monitoring– ““Negotiate Group Process”Negotiate Group Process”

3 Cooperative groups3 Cooperative groups– Roles AssignedRoles Assigned– Frequent MonitoringFrequent Monitoring

ProblemProblem

Perform and Publish an Online Report Perform and Publish an Online Report of a Technology Assessment on the of a Technology Assessment on the Health and Wellness Impacts of Health and Wellness Impacts of Computer Use by ChildrenComputer Use by Children

Roles in Cooperative GroupsRoles in Cooperative Groups

Health and Wellness SpecialistHealth and Wellness SpecialistEducation SpecialistEducation SpecialistEconomics SpecialistEconomics SpecialistWeb SpecialistWeb SpecialistLead EditorLead Editor

Assigning Roles:Assigning Roles:

Had an impact in group work.Had an impact in group work. Seemed to jump start group Seemed to jump start group

conversations.conversations. Gave learners a frame of reference Gave learners a frame of reference

for their initial work and dialog.for their initial work and dialog. Provided for better understanding of Provided for better understanding of

the expectations of teammates.the expectations of teammates.

Follow-up Study: Cognitive Role Follow-up Study: Cognitive Role AssignmentAssignment

Rose & Flowers, 2003Rose & Flowers, 2003– web.bsu.edu/arose/Distance_PBL.pptweb.bsu.edu/arose/Distance_PBL.ppt

6 Cooperative Learning Groups with 6 Cooperative Learning Groups with Roles Based on “Learning” Tasks:Roles Based on “Learning” Tasks:– InferencerInferencer– SummarizerSummarizer– Possibility GeneratorPossibility Generator– Cognitive StrategistCognitive Strategist

Jigsaw ApproachJigsaw Approach

Each team of 4 had its private forum.Each team of 4 had its private forum. Each person was assigned a role.Each person was assigned a role. A separate forum was established for A separate forum was established for

each role.each role.

Result: Increased Cognitive Result: Increased Cognitive DialogDialog

Function by Week, Fall 2001

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CognitiveOrganizationMetacognitiveSocial

Function by Week, Fall 2000

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Function Over TimeFunction Over Time

Other RolesOther Roles

Starter – WrapperStarter – Wrapper Pro vs. ConPro vs. Con Blood-letter, social worker, devil’s Blood-letter, social worker, devil’s

advocate, etc.advocate, etc. Role playing: “You are this author: Role playing: “You are this author:

____”____”

Original WebpagesOriginal Webpages

Student-created Student-created Instructor-createdInstructor-created

Student WebpagesStudent Webpages

Creative empowermentCreative empowerment Ice-breakers, Who’s whoIce-breakers, Who’s who Self-publishing Self-publishing higher quality? higher quality? Feedback from across the globeFeedback from across the globe Can use Web featuresCan use Web features

– HypertextHypertext– MediaMedia– InteractionInteraction– NN

Student WebpagesStudent Webpages

Helpful to future studentsHelpful to future students Makes them seem steeped in Makes them seem steeped in

technologytechnology Useful in job searchesUseful in job searches Can transfer large or complex filesCan transfer large or complex files Can avoid virus protection barriersCan avoid virus protection barriers Training neededTraining needed Server space neededServer space needed

HomepagesHomepages

Individual ReportsIndividual Reports

Online Group ReportsOnline Group Reports

Instructor’s WebpagesInstructor’s Webpages

Course informationCourse information ResourcesResources Content / InformationContent / Information InstructionInstruction OtherOther

Instructor’s Creation IssuesInstructor’s Creation Issues

Do I create, or use an existing item?Do I create, or use an existing item? AccessAccess OwnershipOwnership CopyrightCopyright Designed for multiple platformsDesigned for multiple platforms UsabilityUsability ReusabilityReusability

Creating reusable learning objectsCreating reusable learning objects

Online Web pagesOnline Web pages Small chunks of informationSmall chunks of information Grouped into small chunks of Grouped into small chunks of

instructioninstruction Capable of being reused, remixed, Capable of being reused, remixed,

repurposedrepurposed For more information, see:For more information, see:

– Web.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/mod/Web.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/mod/

Chunking to reduce granularityChunking to reduce granularity

Module on Learning Objects:Module on Learning Objects:web.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/modweb.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/mod

Creating for the lowest common Creating for the lowest common denominatordenominator

Alternatives for sound, video, large Alternatives for sound, video, large graphicsgraphics

Multiple formatting of informationMultiple formatting of information Provide alternatives for different Provide alternatives for different

learning styles and needslearning styles and needs

SummarySummary

Three evolving tools, there are othersThree evolving tools, there are others Don’t be afraid to get startedDon’t be afraid to get started After building some confidence, try After building some confidence, try

new more advanced strategiesnew more advanced strategies Be aware of the lowest common Be aware of the lowest common

denominatordenominator With more experience, your teaching With more experience, your teaching

will likely become better and easier.will likely become better and easier.

Course Management ResourcesCourse Management Resources

Blackboard (and Prometheus) Blackboard (and Prometheus) www.blackboard.comwww.blackboard.com

WebCT WebCT www.webct.comwww.webct.com eCollege eCollege www.ecollege.comwww.ecollege.com Syberworks Syberworks syberworks.comsyberworks.com FirstClass FirstClass www.firstclass.comwww.firstclass.com ELearnGate (formerly Convene) ELearnGate (formerly Convene)

www.learntechpartners.com/elearngate/www.learntechpartners.com/elearngate/

ReferencesReferences

Chatroom Abbreviations Chatroom Abbreviations http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/ahttp://www.sharpened.net/glossary/acronyms.phpcronyms.php

Emoticons Emoticons http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/ehttp://www.sharpened.net/glossary/emoticons.phpmoticons.php

Three Tools of Online Career & Three Tools of Online Career & Technical EducationTechnical Education

Sam Cotton Sam Cotton scotton@bsu.eduscotton@bsu.edu

Jim FlowersJim Flowersjcflowers1@bsu.edujcflowers1@bsu.edu

web.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/pres/3tools.pptweb.bsu.edu/jcflowers1/pres/3tools.ppt