Learning Through Online Delivery What the Experts Say Dr. Margo Burns Dr. Helen Prosser

What are we going to do today?  What do you think is unique about learning online?  What skills do you think is needed to teach online?  How should material be designed for online delivery?  What should an Online Learning Environment look like?

REFLECTION QUESTION Throughout this present, please reflect on the following questions: What do you think is unique about learning online? How can online learners be actively engaged?

Teaching Online: Is Anything Unique?  Who has taught or taken a course online?  What skills do you think is needed to teach online?  How should material be designed for online delivery?  Experts say:  well designed learning materials and support  entertaining and enriching learning experiences  active participation by the learner  self-assessment to build confidence and competence  Hmmmm…  do we strive to do what the experts say?  can these 4 recommendations be done within an online learning environment?

Teaching Online: Is Anything Unique? LET’S EXPLORE HOW THESE 4 RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE PUT INTO PRACTICE

#1: Well designed learning materials & support  The design of an online course “can either facilitate or impede the learning process” Develop & Structure the Learning Environment

Example

Opening the Course

 Create an initial impression that will stimulate development of the learning community and nuture the students to maturity  Welcome and announcement Have fewer assignments in week 1 to allow for technical issues to be dealt with Provide information to the help desk  Introductions Spend week 1 getting to know your students and each other  Emphasize the Syllabus  Establish a Tone of Excellence

Course Design Can Save Time…

Design with Appropriate Use of Technology  Achieve balance between presentation and content  Good courses have multimedia and strong use of technology  Use technology appropriately  You want students to spend their time learning the course content, not the new technology  Establish a Time Framework  Design your units with some time framework  Students then know what to expect and can get into a weekly routine  Personalize  Little touches make a huge difference in how a student views the learning environment  Your online “voice” will come through  Incorporate student feedback  Consider student feedback in redesigning parts of your course

Develop & Structure the Learning Environment Overview of Material Structured Learning Environment Navigation Instruction Design for Different Learning Styles Discussion Lecture Demonstration Self-discovery

Develop & Structure the Learning Environment Overview of Material Structured Learning Environment Navigation Instruction Design for Different Learning Styles Discussion Lecture Demonstration Self-discovery Discussion Lecture Demonstration Self-discovery

#2 Entertaining & Enriching Learning Experiences

Explore LMS:

#3 Active Participation by the Learner What do we mean by this?

#3 Active Participation by the Learner  Require Participation  Set aside a portion of the grade  Recommended 30 to 40%  Form Learning Teams  Make the Activity Interesting  Appeal to life experiences, vested interests  Let students have choice of activities/projects  Don’t Settle For Just Opinions  Insist that opinions be supported by data and rational discourse  Re-examine/summarize at the end of a discussion

#3 Active Participation by the Learner  Structure the Activity  Topics should not be open-ended  Force learners through the design of the activities to fully participate  Require a “Hand-in Assignment” (Deliverable)  Do something besides just expressing ideas and opinions  Know What You are Looking For & Involve Yourself to Help Make it Happen  Know the quality of the work you are looking for and express this in the assignment directions  Participate in the discussions, chats, activities by providing Extensive critique, feedback, and encouragement  Peer Grading  Helps produce quality work

#3 Active Participation by the Learner Remember… Students have a job to do; namely, learn. Learning is best accomplished when the learner is actively engaged in the process.

Discussion Boards

Live Discussions

#4 Self-Assessment to build confidence and Competence  Online assessment can be…and should be…much more interactive then traditional face-to-face assessments.  Interactive Games  Quizzes  Test Your Knowledge

Interactive Activity: Library Assignment

REFLECTION QUESTION Look back at the 2 reflection questions What do you think is unique about learning online? How can online learners be actively engaged? Has Anything Changed For You?