Online Teaching: Breaking the Distance Barrier North Bay, Ontario, Canada A presentation for the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka March 18, 2009

Online Teaching: Breaking the Distance Barrier 1. Communication Technologies & Online Learning 2. Online Learning/Teaching Mechanisms Practical Learning in the Online World Practical Learning in the Online World 3. Preparing to go Online 4. 5 Myths 5. What Online Students & Teachers Say

Communication Technologies and Online Learning Cutting Edge? One word

The Engineers of Tomorrow Rapid Acceleration of Access to Mobile Devices Interest in on-line education is growing with students AND teachers Source: Project Tomorrow Report – US Data, April 8, 2008

Educational Cutting Edge Communication Technologies…. Internet-Based Education Video conferencing, Wiki’s, Global Projects

How Many Online Students? Source: Sloan Surveys

Size Matters Larger institutions teach, on average, far more online students Institution Size Source: Sloan Surveys

What’s happening in the World of Online Learning? Synchronous / Asynchronous / Blended Webinars Webinars Online Workshops Online Workshops Courses / Programs Courses / Programs Blended with F2F Blended with F2F Online Communities Online Communities

Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended Webinars What’s happening in the World of Online Learning?

Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended Online Workshops (Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended) What’s happening in the World of Online Learning? scope.bccampus.ca/

Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended Courses / Programs (Growth of Moodle) What’s happening in the World of Online Learning?

Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended Courses / Programs (Growth of Moodle) What’s happening in the World of Online Learning? Close to 9 million online users 160 Countries 75 Languages (as of January 2007) Growth of Moodle Sites (by month)

Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended Online Communities What’s happening in the World of Online Learning? Over 20,000 members

What’s happening in the World of Online Learning? OCW Learning Object Repositories CurrikiConnexions What does this mean if you are an institute thinking about going online? Open Educational Resources (OER)

19 Matara Anuradhapura Ambalangoda Colombo Kandy More than just Internet Cafes

Online Learning/Teaching Mechanisms What does it mean To know? To learn? To teach Four views….

The Basic Requirements for Learning

CONTENT STUDENT Social ConstructivistCognitive Behavioural GOOD PRACTICE

Direct Instruction Indirect Instruction Experiential Instruction Independent Content Interactive Instruction Prior Knowledge Learning Style Motivating Factors Student Environment Instructional Strategies Adapted from Jones, with input from Honsberger, Peach and Phillips Assessment of & for Learning GoalsContentAssessment Preparation StageDelivery StageEvaluation Teaching Process Pathway to Learning Teacher to Student Student to Teacher Student to Student Student to Content Learning Activities Student to Environment

Good Learning… Student to student Student to teacher Student to content Student to interface

Components of Good Learning… Online Everything about the course should reflect your organizations’ beliefs about learning

Components of Good Learning… Online Student to student Student to teacher Student to content Student to interface

Anatomy of an online Lesson Applying Learning/Teaching Beliefs Learning Activities

Good Learning… Student to student Student to teacher Student to content Student to interface Learning Activities

30  Web Research / WebQuests  Discussion Forums – Student Moderated  Discussion Forums – Instructor Moderated  CD-Based Materials  Course Notes – Printed  Course Notes – Online  Chat Sessions  Online Meetings  Hand-In Assignments  Research Projects  Wikis  PowerPoint Presentation  PowerPoint Presentation with Audio  Flash Interaction  Online Crosswords  Surveys and Polls  Self-Correcting Quizzes  Hand-in Assignments  Role Plays  Debates  Online Case Studies  Video Streaming  Rollovers / Flash Cards  Journals Lesson Level Activities

Engineering Examples

Discussion Boards Community Building…

Group Work – From Human Relations Course

Three Questions… 1. What do you think are the Benefits / Problem Areas for some of the online activities I have presented? 2. Which of the examples would you like to revisit in more detail? WHY? 3. Which examples do you feel would be best suited to inclusion in an online engineering course? WHY?

Preparing to go Online – Institute What supports are necessary?

Preparing to go Online – Institute A vision for success – be realistic A vision for success – be realistic A Plan – you know what they say…. A Plan – you know what they say….

Preparing to go Online – Institute HOW NODES CAN HELP Mark Lamontagne, International Team Leader, Distance Education Modernization Project Video Appearance From North Bay

Preparing to go Online – Teacher What does a teacher do online? What does a teacher do online? THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS…. Provide important information repeatedly - Home page message, , Discussion Board. Humour and Humanism – the instructor is REAL! I am VERY available – (within online environment and outside), discussion boards, telephone, virtual office hours. Pre-Course “Sandbox” First, come to understand the job of the online teacher, then provide the supports that are necessary for him/her to be successful. After all, an online teacher is the new ‘front door’ to your institute!

Preparing to go Online – Teacher Expectations of Students (you should hear your students more than yourself)

Preparing to go Online – Teacher HOW NODES COULD HELP Mark Lamontagne, International Team Leader, Distance Education Modernization Project Video Appearance From North Bay

Preparing to go Online – Student Benefits for Student:  Interactive Education  Hidden Curriculum (IT Skills, Research Skills, Collaboration Skills)  Savings on Travel Time  Savings on Travel Costs  More Time with Family What are the attributes of a successful online students? What are the attributes of a successful online students? What can the teacher/institute do?

Preparing to go Online – Student HOW NODES COULD HELP Mark Lamontagne, International Team Leader, Distance Education Modernization Project Video Appearance From North Bay

5 Myths about Online Learning Student: “It’s an easy credit” Not so, if higher order thinking and social constructivist learning is incorporated into the design

5 Myths about Online Learning Student: “You need a high speed internet connection” Not so, if institute is mindful of bandwidth when designing online course – good learning mustn’t be digitally ‘heavy’.

5 Myths about Online Learning Institution: “You can’t do soft skills or practical skills online” Think LEARNING first, Online is only a delivery system

5 Myths about Online Learning Institution: “It takes a huge amount of time and resources to develop an online course”. Not so, if a systems approach is applied and thoughtful attention to human resource requirements.

5 Myths about Online Learning Teacher: “It’s easy for a student to cheat” Not so, if a pro-active approach is taken when designing assessments.

Final Thoughts Five Habits of Successful Online Institutes 1. Develop a long term plan – 5 years at least 2. Know why you are jumping in, review learning/teaching beliefs – incorporate into design & communicate it! 3. Students, students, students 4. Teachers, teachers, teachers 5. Opportunity to rejuvenate – reinvent

What Students and Teachers Say about Online Education From the students … From the students … I actually learn more when it is an online course versus in-class. Why? Simply because I find that in- class people tend to deviate, and the same people are the ones always talking. I much prefer this learning. I actually learn more when it is an online course versus in-class. Why? Simply because I find that in- class people tend to deviate, and the same people are the ones always talking. I much prefer this learning. I must admit, my motivation for an on-line course was to avoid an inflexible schedule and time obligation that a classroom course requires. I was very surprised to see the depth of discussion and level of participation. I must admit, my motivation for an on-line course was to avoid an inflexible schedule and time obligation that a classroom course requires. I was very surprised to see the depth of discussion and level of participation. Reproduced with permission from ODL students

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