Welcome To Online Community Building New Faculty Orientation 2006 Linda Futch

Agenda Introductions Why Collaborate? Online Collaboration UCF How Faculty Get Accounts Put It Into Practice Questions

Why Collaboration? Learners are “involved in constructing knowledge through a process of discussion and interaction with learning peers and experts” Harasim (1989, p. 51)

Benefits of Collaborative Learning Improved judgment Increased ability to work in teams Prepared for the global marketplace Cognitive mentoring & telementoring Less grading, less time required

Set Protocols Rules of operation of your course Netiquette Expectations When to use what form of communication Help resources

Online Collaboration Tools eCommunity Bb/WebCT: –Discussion topics –Course mail –Chat –Whiteboard –Student presentations –GroupWise –Pegasus –Personal

Building a Learning Community Encourage use of discussions, chat, Students post their bio’s in a discussion topic or on eCommunity Resist temptation to answer all discussion questions – let the students answer the questions when possible Moderate and track discussion use Create private (groups) discussions Encourage use of chat rooms for specific purposes – Moderate rooms Designate group meeting times in chat room Encourage use of student presentations for groups

How Faculty Get Accounts eCommunity –Simply login and associate your class sections to yourself – Bb/WebCT –Take Essentials –Request an account at Groupwise –Go to…..

Put It Into Practice eCommunity Bb/WebCT Discussions

Thank you for Coming Questions?