Course Redesign: From Traditional, To Blended, To Online Larry Beck, Ph.D. San Diego State University

Unconventional Readings

Introspective Portfolio Projects

Experiential Component

Student Comment The highlight of the class for me was the Aztec Adventure to Yosemite Valley…This adventure really set in the importance of the lectures…I got to experience firsthand the same sights that inspired John Muir. It was an experience I will always remember…

Unconventional Readings

Introspective Portfolio Projects

Experiential Component

Student Comment My time at Rancho La Mentada truly changed my life and was an absolutely beautiful experience…It was amazing to get away to a place where there is no technology to distract us from the beauty all around…Overall, this trip was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had.

Traditional Face-to-Face Complete Distance Ed Blended Learning

Blended Approach Provide Online Work on: Provide Online Work on: Fridays (RTM 305) Fridays (RTM 305) Holidays (RTM 404) Holidays (RTM 404)

Student Experiences RTM % Response Rate

Adobe Captivate Online presentations that include traditional PowerPoint slides and narration with options to pause, review, replay, etc.

Did you prefer Captivate to attending class on Fridays?

What is the downside of Captivate, if any? No questions/discussion Procrastination Long time to load up More time consuming

Did you ever pause or review some portion of the presentation?

Captivate

Where did you view the online Captivate presentations?

Did you prefer closed captions or without captions when viewing the online presentations?

UDL: Course Content Offers Various Methods of… EngagementExpression

Engagement Universally designed course content provides options for engaging with the course material. Universally designed course content provides options for engaging with the course material. Posted PowerPoints and Captivate transcripts on Blackboard. Posted PowerPoints and Captivate transcripts on Blackboard. Provided supplemental materials (video segments and articles). Provided supplemental materials (video segments and articles).

Expression Universally designed course content allows for alternate methods of expression of the learning that occurs. Universally designed course content allows for alternate methods of expression of the learning that occurs. Students could choose their major project: the traditional Experiential Component or a WebQuest. Students could choose their major project: the traditional Experiential Component or a WebQuest.

Universal Design Learning Offers students a variety of ways to learn the material and a variety of ways to express what was learned.

Why I Chose WQ and Wikis Critical Learning Elements

Cooperative Learning Students interact with peers and professor Students interact with peers and professor Knowledge is discovered and applied Knowledge is discovered and applied Learning is cooperative (rather than competitive) Learning is cooperative (rather than competitive)

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Creating Putting elements together to form a coherent whole or make an original product. Putting elements together to form a coherent whole or make an original product. The WebQuest is structured so the task is to create something (in this case a Wiki). The WebQuest is structured so the task is to create something (in this case a Wiki).

21 st Century Skills Information and technological literacy Information and technological literacy Inventive and creative thinking Inventive and creative thinking Communication and collaboration Communication and collaboration Providing solutions to real-world issues Providing solutions to real-world issues

21 st Century Skills 21 st Century Skills WebQuest Group Dynamics Group Dynamics Communication Communication Collaboration Collaboration Creative thinking Creative thinking Problem-solving Problem-solving Real-world issues Real-world issues Information and technological literacy. Experiential Component Group Dynamics Group Dynamics Communication Communication Collaboration Collaboration Creative thinking Creative thinking Problem-solving Problem-solving Real-world issues Real-world issues Firsthand experience.

Student Comment Another highlight was the choice of whether we wanted to go on an Aztec Adventure or participate in a Wiki group. The choice to let us do what we wanted to, and how we learned the best, was probably my favorite thing about the class.

Online Quizzes Students Love Them!

Why Students Love Online Quizzes Not as much stress Not as much stress Doesn’t waste class time Doesn’t waste class time Provides reward for reading Provides reward for reading Immediate feedback (quiz score) Immediate feedback (quiz score) Prepared for in-class discussion Prepared for in-class discussion

Why I Love Online Quizzes All the reasons students love them All the reasons students love them I don’t have to grade them! I don’t have to grade them!

From: Assessing the Online Learner (2009) Online exams should be viewed as take-home exams, as students will use notes and other resources to complete them. Be aware that when students enter the workforce, they will not be asked to solve problems from memory or without using reference materials.

From: Assessing the Online Learner (2009) Move beyond tests and quizzes to offer a variety of assessment techniques. Using major projects also reduces the likelihood of cheating or plagiarism when assignments are related to real-world situations that require incorporation of unique resources and personal analysis.

Two Years Ago at This Workshop, from the Keynote… ConvenienceConvenienceConvenience

Overall Assessment of Blended Learning RTM % Response Rate

Compared to the traditional classroom experience the blended approach is:

Would you like to take other blended learning courses?

Overall Assessment of Blended Learning RTM % Response Rate

Compared to the traditional classroom experience the blended approach is:

Would you like to take other blended learning courses?

Did Learning Improve? Previous 5 Years GPAs GPAs Blended Learning 3.3 in Fall 3.3 in Fall 3.5 in Spring! 3.5 in Spring!

WHY? WHY? Pause, review and/or replay Captivate Pause, review and/or replay Captivate Transcripts and PowerPoints posted Transcripts and PowerPoints posted Reading completed (online quiz motivation) Reading completed (online quiz motivation) Options to meet preferred learning styles Options to meet preferred learning styles Announcements—at least weekly Announcements—at least weekly Exemplary examples of past work (Wikis) Exemplary examples of past work (Wikis) Rubrics Rubrics

The Fully Online Course Launches Tomorrow… With the intent that it will be as effective as the regular semester offering…

Course Features Wimba Live Classroom Wimba Live Classroom Captivate Captivate Online Quizzes and Exams Online Quizzes and Exams WebQuest and Wikis WebQuest and Wikis Discussion Board Discussion Board Portfolio Projects Portfolio Projects Online “Library” Resources Online “Library” Resources

Good Luck! I hope your “story” is as rewarding to you and your students as my experience has been for me and my students.