Goal-based scenarios for online teacher education Craig A. Cunningham Associate Professor National-Louis University Chicago

Agenda National-Louis University’s online course: Child, Family, and Community National-Louis University’s online course: Child, Family, and Community Goal-based scenarios in teacher education Goal-based scenarios in teacher education Delivery via Web CT Delivery via Web CT Use of Second Life (?) Use of Second Life (?) Discussion Discussion

NLU’s Online Early Childhood Administration Program Entire program is online; department pays independent designer to develop courses; is also developing a database of learning modules for the program Entire program is online; department pays independent designer to develop courses; is also developing a database of learning modules for the program Sample course: Child, Family, and Community Sample course: Child, Family, and Community Course-level scenario: Member of the Mayor of Sheridanville’s advisory board; weekly policy recommendations; individual and group assignments Course-level scenario: Member of the Mayor of Sheridanville’s advisory board; weekly policy recommendations; individual and group assignments Instruction-level scenario: write report on best ways to support a particular child’s needs in an early childhood center Instruction-level scenario: write report on best ways to support a particular child’s needs in an early childhood center

Goal-based scenarios in teacher education Collaborative Collaborative Problem-based Problem-based Inquiry oriented Inquiry oriented Interactive Interactive Authentic Authentic Can be: Can be: Engaging (“fun,” leading to enhanced participation) Engaging (“fun,” leading to enhanced participation) Complex (multidiscilinary, appealing to multiple learning styles) Complex (multidiscilinary, appealing to multiple learning styles) Evolve over time (modular courseware) Evolve over time (modular courseware)

Delivery of goal-based scenarios via WebCT PowerPoint PowerPoint Camtasia Camtasia Some flash Some flash Word attachments Word attachments Instructional strategies compatible with WebCT course tools Instructional strategies compatible with WebCT course tools

Second Life Disclaimer: we have not moved forward on these plans Disclaimer: we have not moved forward on these plans Second Life offers: Second Life offers: A sense of copresence (“body language”) and enhanced spatial representation A sense of copresence (“body language”) and enhanced spatial representation Multiple forms of communication Multiple forms of communication Powerful building/scripting tools Powerful building/scripting tools (but platform has distracting elements and is “not ready for prime time”) (but platform has distracting elements and is “not ready for prime time”) What we envision: What we envision: Interactive, goal-based scenarios in a virtual representation of Sheridanville. Interactive, goal-based scenarios in a virtual representation of Sheridanville. Scripted avatars, who dispense case-related information Scripted avatars, who dispense case-related information Role-playing scenarios for both students and faculty Role-playing scenarios for both students and faculty

Issues for discussion Why (not) use goal-based scenarios? Affordances of Second Life versus traditional LMS Assessment issues Imagining future possibilities