Asynchronous Groups: What Works and What Does Not Michelle Harkins, M.A.
Background Online courses should meet the same objectives as face to face (both in terms of written content SLOs and in informal underlying goals). Online courses can be isolating. Creating community online is challenging.
As a learner My first training online: –Content modules –Quizzes –Discussion board My second training online: –Content modules –Discussion board –Projects Group discussion Group wiki Group blog
As a teacher Where do I begin? Which tool should I use? How do I communicate instructions? How do I navigate the instructor technology? How will they communicate with each other?
The first time Hybrid course – Fall 2014
New task Hybrid – Spring 2015
Taking the plunge Online – Winter 2016
Misunderstanding Online – Winter 2016
Clarifying Online – Winter 2016
Final products Online – Winter 2016
Final products Online – Winter 2016
Final products Online – Winter 2016
Moving forward Winter Group set-up 1.Discussion board 2.Wiki 2.Instructions 3.Misunderstanding 4.Clarification 5.Products still showed students needed more guidance. Spring Group set-up 1.Discussion board 2.Wiki 2.Instructions with video screencast. 3.Clarification (of content). 4.Products
“Do” Learn from your and their mistakes. Make everyone accountable. Monitor their activity closely. Provide clear instructions. Utilize communication tools for feedback and questions. “Don’t” Assume your students can figure it out. Be afraid of the technology. Give up.
More information Michelle Harkins Spanish/ESL Instructor Foreign Language Coordinator Rowan College at Burlington County 601 Pemberton Browns Mills Road Pemberton, NJ Phone: (609) , ext