Engaging Learners with New Strategies and Tools

Attached to this evenings post is a Graphic Organizer that displays technological tools and strategies that I believe are essential to a positive online education environment. The strategies and tools are built from three primary essentials:

1. Content
2. Communication
3. Collaboration

I have chosen to break the model into categories that include the Learning Environment (Content), Discussion Strategies (Communication), and Wiki and Blogs (Collaboration). The information presented within the graphic organizer is established through the research of Vance Durrington, Amy Berryhill, and Jeanne Swafford (2006).

In order for an online education environment to be successful, there must be content that is suitable for the environment. The content included within the learning environment should include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. Discussion areas for student and the instructor to present ideas
2. Established timelines for communication between instructor and student
3. Materials that allow students to present varying perspectives
4. Subject matter that allows students to elaborate

Because communication is a vital part of the online environment discussion strategies should be established with guidelines that allow students to:

1. Promote superficial and substantive responses
2. Set minimum contribution standards
3. Relate topics to the content of the exercises
4. Provide direct expectations of the discussion material

Finally, collaboration is essential. Wikis and Blogs provide a solid foundation for collaboration within an online environment. For these products to have a successful impact on the groups involved either will:

1. Include small groups set up to encourage more discussion and less confusion of who is involved
2. Promote Interaction within the groups
3. Allow asynchronous discussion based
4. Understand that there may be group error and self-correction that occurs

Link to Graphic Organizer:


https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7DtyQOG_TQ_Y2ZjZGYxNmUtZjgyNy00M2I2LWJhYTAtZWFhZmI3ODk1NjUx&hl=en


Reference:

Durrington, V.A., Berryhill, A., & Swafford, J. (2006). Strategies for enhancing student interactivity   in an online environment. College Teaching, 54(1), 190-193.

Assessing Collaborative Learning

The following responses are associated with the questions presented in EDUC-8842-2. The answers reflect my views of the subject matter and are solely based on my experiences.


How should participation in a collaborative learning community be assessed?

A successful learning environment should include discussions that require classmates to communicate and present credible (referenced) ideas through reading and research. Upon completion of these discussions, each class member should be encouraged to post a response to different group members posts. Assessment from the instructor is based on the collaboration of these students with each other.
Students that do not present valuable feedback to their classmates receive grades less than those of their cohort.

How do the varying levels of skill and knowledge students bring to a course affect the instructor's "fair and equitable assessment" of learning?

Fair and equitable assessment should not be based on the level of skill and knowledge of the student, rather, how the course is set up. If the instructor and administration set up the course based on content and outcomes, all students regardless of skill level should be successful.

If a student does not want to network or collaborate in a learning community for an online course, what should the other members of the learning community do? 

Students within the group should make an attempt to collaborate with the student and continue to work together as a unit. If the the individual does not wish to participate in the group by providing additional feedback to classmates, the instructor will see this and should grade accordingly. 

What role should the instructor play? 

In a collaborative environment, the instructor should consider him/herself the observer and evaluator.

What impact would this have on his or her assessment plan? 

The goal is to view the work presented by the team, with occasional commentary, and to assess the contribution that is being presented by each team member. Through his/her experience and position as the instructor of the course, it is his/her responsibility to provide a grade to each individual based on the presentations of the team.

Project Assignment - Video Presentation

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I have included links for a Power Point Presentation and Video to discuss the project topic that I will cover this quarter. I encourage everyone to provide feedback and critique my blog as needed. Remember, we cannot be successful if we do not know where may have flaws, so please let me know. The video was created through IMovie and I hope you can view or have the ability to convert the product into a viewable format. Have a great afternoon. 


http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7DtyQOG_TQ_YjM1NzcwZWItNGI2ZC00MGFhLWIxODEtMTBiYTQ1MDUwMDE4&hl=en

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AbDtyQOG_TQ_ZDMyamZ3Y182ZHdqaHZraG4&hl=en