1. Integrating Interactivity into Online Courses by Diana Zilberman August 21 FOTTC

2. Integrating Interactivity into Online Courses I Rationale - why we should do it II Strategies - how to do it III Faculty Training - how to encourage implementation

3. Integrating Interactivity into Online Courses: Part I: Rationale n What is the pedagogical value of interactivity? interactivity? n Interactivity in conventional classrooms versus interactivity online versus interactivity online

4. Part I: Rationale Why Interactivity? n interactivity in the learning process adheres to the constructivist cognitive theory by which learners create their own knowledge

5. Part I: Rationale Interactivity appeals to all learning styles because of its emphasis on learning by doing. n visual, aural, or kinesthetic n sequential or simultaneous (multi- task) n concrete or abstract preferential

6. Part I: Rationale Strengths of the conventional classroom (although it’s teacher-centered) n high level of teacher-student interaction n high level of student-student interaction n ideal at demonstrating and teaching concepts and application n real time feedback (Niedrauer, 1998)

7. Part I: Rationale Possible drawback of the online course (although it’s student-centered): n minimal student-student interaction n timeliness of feedback n difficulty in teaching concepts and application (Niedrauer, 1998)

8. Challenges for online courses: introducing more interaction n student to student n student to instructor n student to content

9. More challenges: n bringing the benefits of the conventional classroom into the distance education setting n drawing on technology to bring innovative ways to promote interaction n encouraging the traditional instructor to make the transition from an instructor- centered to a student-centered setting

10. II Strategies How to include student to student interaction n post student pictures, short biographies, and favorite web sites n make first assignment “meet your fellow students” n for example, each student to e-mail to two others in the class and a cc to instructor (no instructor reply necessary; just inventory)

11. II Strategies How to include student to student interaction n threaded discussion n ask provocative, open-ended questions n encourage/make mandatory student to student responses n respond fast and enthusiastically to first postings n invite your school administrators to participate in discussions

12. II Strategies How to include student to student interaction n chats n work great for brain storming sessions n good to initiate group projects n exciting n informal

13. II Strategies How to include student to student interaction n peer review n require two or more student feedback on assignments/projects n encourage/require subsequent revisions n group projects

14. II Strategies How to include student to content interaction n encourage web-based research n require students to check websites’ reliability n encourage students to share website discoveries

15. II Strategies How to include student to content interaction …continued

16. “What’s in it for me?” n encourage student input regarding content of assignments and projects n benefits: n makes course more relevant n allows students to integrate life experiences into the course n motivates students to be more invested

17. II Strategies How to include student to content interaction n encourage student input regarding format of assignments and projects n allows students to showcase special talents n encourages creativity

18. II Strategies How to include student to content interaction n allow/encourage students to self- assess their learning and/or work

19. II Strategies How to include student to instructor interaction

20. n include instructor picture and “about me” information; keep it updated n make first assignment easy n respond to technical questions n include controversial statements to trigger students’ reaction

21. III Faculty Training - how to encourage implementation of interactivity in online courses n ask faculty these questions: n can the interactivity of my conventional class be applied to the online course? n what kind of interactive exercise is possible only on the online course?

22. Conclusion n interactivity is a sine qua non condition of the online course n it is central to online courses n the online course should not be a mere information delivery tool n interactivity mut be built in the course design

23. Web-based distance learning is evolving its own pedagogy. n pedagogy is unique to the technology technology n faculty are still learning about and experimenting with ways to facilitate interactivity in online courses

24. The End... n And remember, a student-centered course means that the instructor is not n Cognitus Magnificus, but n Ducere Mentorus Maximus (adapted from www.learnscope)