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.
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Terry,
ReplyDeleteDo you believe that one area content, communication, or collaboration is more important or do you feel like all three hold equal imprtatnce in engaging online learners?
I believe that all are equally important for successful online engagement, however, for the sake of argument if I had to rank them in order of importance I would consider the following:
ReplyDelete1. Content
2. Communication
3. Collaboration
Do you believe this to be the case, or do you have a different view on the subject matter?
The post is chock full of sound principles. Having done synchronous, asynchronous, and self-directed graduate study, I can say that a major element of successful online education is the quality of discourse, which you allude to in the communication category (i.e., "superficial and substantive responses"). Computer mediated discourse is the foundation of successful eLearning, no exceptions.
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