Pat Anderchek Nancy Brown Brunton Fall 2002 Pat Anderchek Nancy Brown Brunton Fall 2002

The Community… FRED site CYW website

Through the use of educational technology we have developed an on-line collaborative learning environment: our “virtual community”

Funds for this project were initially allocated through a 1999/2000 Academic Plan for projects related to the development of alternative delivery learning materials. We submitted a plan for the conversion of the Legislation Course from its existing format to Internet-based delivery. The Project

After initial exploration a decision was made to work with Andrew Connery, our Multimedia Developer to convert this course to a web-centric delivery using FirstClass and the Web. This initial project has led to the development of a vision for the CYW Program that uses education technology as a core component to program delivery. Stage 1

From the beginning we saw that there would be two main components to the conversion: Our Vision 1. The development of a website for program information and academic content delivery. 2. The integration of FirstClass (FRED), a distributed-learning environment and communication system, to provide connectivity between faculty, students, and resources.

Our initial goal was to produce a teaching/learning resource which was: Accessible and easy to useAccessible and easy to use Easy to navigateEasy to navigate Visually richVisually rich An improvement on existing materialsAn improvement on existing materials Our Objectives

facilitate student learning and improve communication through the use of Education Technologyfacilitate student learning and improve communication through the use of Education Technology continue to develop all areas of our “virtual community”continue to develop all areas of our “virtual community” Our Objectives Our ongoing objective is to:

A second stage of the project was given approval and included the following: enhancement of the Legislation course through increased integration of FirstClass’s conferencing and communication featuresenhancement of the Legislation course through increased integration of FirstClass’s conferencing and communication features ongoing development of the CYW Program website, including course subsites containing course outlines and academic content.ongoing development of the CYW Program website, including course subsites containing course outlines and academic content. Stage 2

creation of curriculum support materials including on-line videos, quizzes, and other course content.creation of curriculum support materials including on-line videos, quizzes, and other course content. community outreach projectscommunity outreach projects websites and FirstClass integration for all Human Service programs.websites and FirstClass integration for all Human Service programs. Stage 3 The department made a strategic decision to ensure on-going development, and additional funding was provided through X-Centre projects. This led to:

continue to develop both web and FirstClass sites to support our original goals of teaching, learning, communication, and collaborationcontinue to develop both web and FirstClass sites to support our original goals of teaching, learning, communication, and collaboration continue to increase openness and access to information for students, field supervisors, faculty, program applicants, and community partnerscontinue to increase openness and access to information for students, field supervisors, faculty, program applicants, and community partners continue to develop original learning resources.continue to develop original learning resources. Presently, we…

co-ordinator & designerco-ordinator & designer Chair and co-ordinatorChair and co-ordinator co-ordinator & facultyco-ordinator & faculty faculty & faculty (full & part-time)faculty & faculty (full & part-time) students and facultystudents and faculty co-ordinator & co-ordinatorco-ordinator & co-ordinator co-ordinator & field supervisorsco-ordinator & field supervisors faculty & field supervisorsfaculty & field supervisors co-ordinator & other program facultyco-ordinator & other program faculty Partnerships are Key Without partnerships and team work nothing happens!

Time Faculty interest Design support Technology support Equipment Faculty willingness to learn and implement Time Required Resources

“A view to the future, breaking down barriers, celebrating relationships and strengthening communities from sea to sea”… is the basic premise for the use of education technology in our CYW Program.

CYW FRED CYW virtual community CYW Website and Resources History Module – template for all online modules Attending Skills- video Bullying- video Making Friends- audio On-line Quizzes Case Studies What you will see…

Questions?

Easier and quicker means of communication between staff/staff and staff/students. 1:1 contact between staff and with a student that may be reluctant to ask questions in person Students can access overheads, class outlines prior to scheduled class. Information always posted. Supplements in-class activities through on line discussions and web links to interesting articles etc. Organization for both staff and students. Top Reasons (why faculty like our virtual community)

Work from home. Allows quiet/introverted students opportunity to participate in on-line discussions. Brings the CYW community closer together through ongoing messaging and chats. Top Reasons (why faculty like our virtual community) Forum for students to help each other with studying. Students can use resource materials that are in other instructors class sites.

The fact that we didn't need to attend class every week. When ever I needed help, I could just post a question. The part that I enjoyed the most was the fact that the course is very very flexible and takes alot of stress out of the course. Easy to use. Top Reasons (why students like our virtual community) That it was on the internet!! I liked the flexibility of working on the modules at home. At home you can be comfortable and you don't have classmates to distract you.

Slow dial up from home. The biggest problem for me is that the faster I go (learn) the behinder I get (so much new stuff to learn). Top Reasons (why faculty dislike our virtual community) Students that are reluctant to utilize it and complain. One of the drawbacks is that not all of the students use this tool so their learning is effected.

The thing that I liked least was the flexibilty of the course. I found out that I am not as disciplined as I should be. It has taught me something very important. I have never had a lower mark in any course, ever! In my case, the flexibility was the best and worst part of the course. I am just happy that I know now that I will need to be more disciplined. Top Reasons (why students dislike our virtual community) It's just not too much fun. I don't have time to sit on FRED for hours at a time to actually get all the stuff done. Because I had to come into the school and use it.

Virtual community/communication toolVirtual community/communication tool High accessibilityHigh accessibility Connect to the world community of Child & Youth Care PracticeConnect to the world community of Child & Youth Care Practice Low publishing costLow publishing cost Easy to change content/updatesEasy to change content/updates Vocational Learning OutcomeVocational Learning Outcome Easy media integrationEasy media integration Encourages student involvement, feedbackEncourages student involvement, feedback Flexibility of learningFlexibility of learning Student responsibility for learningStudent responsibility for learning Faculty learning and curriculum revisionFaculty learning and curriculum revision Curriculum access/increased opennessCurriculum access/increased openness Benefits (to using education technology )

requires technology access either at home or collegerequires technology access either at home or college numerous variations of resources, browsers etc.numerous variations of resources, browsers etc. flexibility of learningflexibility of learning student responsibility for learningstudent responsibility for learning faculty learningfaculty learning curriculum accesscurriculum access timetime resourcesresources Drawbacks (to using education technology )

Resources Learning curve Overzealousness Time-intensive process Maintenance- ongoing supportFear/vision Challenges

A view to the future, breaking down barriers, celebrating relationships and strengthening communities from sea to sea- through our online Learning Environment.

This presentation was developed in October 2002 at Mohawk College Content: Pat Anderchek Artwork and Construction: Andrew Connery Content: Pat Anderchek Artwork and Construction: Andrew Connery