Building a Virtual Classroom Community Dr. Lujean Baab Director, M.Ed. Programs - DeSales University VSS

Challenges for K-12 Online Teachers Transferring skills to new environment. Insufficient professional development Management tasks –T–Time management –C–Content management –‘–‘Classroom’ management 2 Rice, K., Dawley, L., Gasell, C., and Florez, C. (2008) Going Virtual: Unique Needs and Challenges of K-12 Online Teachers. Boise State University with North American Council for Online Learning. pp Retrieved 6/25/09 from fhttp://edtech.boisestate.edu/goingvirtual/goingvirtual2.pd f

Cornerstones Contact Classroom Community ConsistencyContent 3

Contact As early as possible As personalized as possible Reduce potential for problems Provide clear expectations (doc w/ return) Establishing identities and ‘social presence’ –Introductory discussion - –Teacher and Student photo directory – –Photo and audio in documents / correspondence 4

Research 5 Mode of Delivery Asynchronous Blend of asynch / synch (no on-site) Hybrid (onsite / online ) Teaching Style Expert – formal authority Personal model - facilitator - delegator Learning Style Active / reflective – sensing / intuitive Visual / verbal – sequential / global Level of Interactivity (Roblyer)Roblyer Classroom Community Scale (Rovai)Rovai

Building a more solid foundation Factors affecting the ‘sense of classroom community’ –Mode of delivery Highest – Blended/hybrid Lowest - Asynchronous –Teaching style (Grasha-Riechmann)(Grasha-Riechmann) Highest – Facilitator Lowest – Delegator 6

Building a more solid foundation Factors affecting the ‘sense of classroom community’ –Learning style (Felder & Silverman)(Felder & Silverman) Active – Reflective Sensing – Intuitive Visual – Verbal Sequential - Global –Interactivity (amount and type) 7 Online Questionnaire Descriptions of Learning Styles

Building a more solid foundation 8 Relationship View Learner RelationshipsTeacher Relationships Learner – TeacherTeacher - Teacher Learner – ContentTeacher - Content Learner – LearnerTeacher – Learner Learner – TechnologyTeacher - Technology

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Managing the Classroom Community Interactivity* –R–Relationship with teacher and classmates –S–Socialization and communication with other students –R–Real time (online or onsite) opportunties –C–Collaborative learning activities Social networks and Web 2.0 technologies. * From: Watson J. and Gemin B. (2008) Promising Practices in Online Learning: Socialization in Online Programs. North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) p. 6. Retrieved 6/25/09 from zation.pdf 10

Managing the Online Classroom Community Established norms (expectations) Learning styles - teaching styles Roles in the classroom community –Teacher led, student centered –Responsibilities defined Structure vs. Interaction –“ transactional distance” 11

Managing the Online Classroom Community –“ transactional distance” Interactivity leading to dialogue between teachers and students can serve to reduce what Moore (1993) describes as "transactional distance.“ Transactional distance is relative and different for each person and from each distance education program to the next. Greater structure / lower interaction = more learner autonomy –Greater transactional distance = less connection Greater structure / higher interaction = less learner autonomy –Lower transactional distance = greater connection 12

Content Pacing for guided learning – within the established structure –facilitation not delegation Timing and ‘time on task ’ –Consistent, reliable scheduled access –Estimation of time to complete activities Managing files and student submissions –Structure established, maintained, and required For example: BaabLHistoryFinalPaper

Consistency (Structure) Maintain routine –Reliable –Sustainable Maintain patterns –Location of material –Division of tasks (reading, discussion, activity) –Submission of work completed (file/ ) Maintain schedule –Advanced notice of change –Explanation for change 14

Cornerstones ContactCommunityConsistencyContent 15

Dr. Lujean Baab DeSales University 2755 Station Ave. Center Valley, PA X