Using Technology to Enhance the Online Learning Experience

Using Technology to enhance the Online Learning Experience

One way of describing a course is that it is a set of learning experiences designed to guide learners as they acquire and are assessed on a specific set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.  There are a few questions that you should consider as a instructor, in order to facilitate an effective and engaging online course (Boettcher, 2010).

Technology is the medium from which you will facilitate your course.  It provides you the ability to offer and customize your course to fit the outcomes you have determined.  Additionally, technology allows additional interaction to be conducted or inserted into the course as well.  However, you need to keep in mind what technology your students will have access too, as not to create an undue burden, or create interactions that can't be accessed by everyone, due to technology limitations.

This week's Resources:

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). Launching the online learning experience [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Image.  (n.d.) Retrieved from:  http://interactiveservices.com/2013/12/e-learning-development-choosing-the-right-technology/



 
By Wednesday:

Post your thoughts on What's the significance of knowing the technology available to you?  Provide at least two benefits of using technology in Online Learning Environments.   Be sure to cite information from the Learning Resources to support your thinking.

By Sunday:

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings. As you read their responses, note those to which you would like to respond with advice, questions, comments, and/or encouragement.

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ postings in any of the following ways:

• Build on something your colleague said.
• 
  
• Explain why and how you see things differently.
• 
  
• Ask a probing or clarifying question.
• 
  
• Share an insight from having read your colleague's posting.
• 
  
• Offer and support an opinion.
• 
  
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• 
  
• Expand on your colleague's posting.
• 
  
• Ask for evidence that supports the posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Reflect on what you learned in this activity and/or insights you gained this week.

Discussion Rubric

Quality of work submitted	4 - Above Standards A = 4.00; A- = 3.75	3 - Meets Standards B+ = 3.50; B = 3.00; B- = 2.75	2 - Approaching Standards C+ = 2.50; C = 2.00; C- = 1.75	1 - Below Standards F = 1.00
Support for position	Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement. The writer anticipates the reader's concerns, biases or arguments and has provided at least 1 counter-argument.	Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement.	Includes 2 pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement.	Includes 1 or fewer pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences).
Evidence and Examples	All of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position.	Most of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position.	At least one of the pieces of evidence and examples is relevant and has an explanation that shows how that piece of evidence supports the author's position.	Evidence and examples are NOT relevant AND/OR are not explained.
Sources	Includes 4 or more sources.  All sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and cited correctly.	Includes 3 or more sources.  All sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and most are cited correctly.	Includes 2 or more sources.  Most sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and cited correctly.	Many sources are suspect (not credible) AND/OR are not cited correctly.

Essentials of Setting up the Online Learning Experience

Essentials of Setting up the Online Learning Experience

One way of describing a course is that it is a set of learning experiences designed to guide learners as they acquire and are assessed on a specific set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.  There are a few questions that you should consider as a instructor, in order to facilitate an effective and engaging online course (Boettcher, 2010).

What is the significance of knowing the technology available to you? 
 

Technology is the medium from which you will facilitate your course.  It provides you the ability to offer and customize your course to fit the outcomes you have determined.  Additionally, technology allows additional interaction to be conducted or inserted into the course as well.  However, you need to keep in mind what technology your students will have access too, as not to create an undue burden, or create interactions that can't be accessed by everyone, due to technology limitations.
 

Why is it essential to communicate clear expectations to learners? 

Clear expectations is an expectation that the learners actually have for the instructors.  In an environment where most of the learning can be self directed, it is 


Many teachers come into the profession with expectations that are so high that no student would be able to meet them. When this occurs, everyone gets frustrated. It causes both the students and the instructors a great deal of difficulty, because they find that they can not get what they need from their students, and their students can not get what they need from their instructor

 
The first rule about expectations is that students must understand what they are, what they mean, and how it looks to meet them; you should read them out loud and not assume students know how these translate into actions.

When expectations are put into practice, they promote responsibility and togetherness. Things have a tendency to work better.

What additional considerations should the instructor take into account when setting up an online learning experience?

I feel you have just as many consideration you have to take into account as when teaching a f2f course, some the major ones are:

- Communication; how and with what regularity.

- Grading; create rubrics, clear direction.

- Student interactions; how much independent of group collaboration do you want.

- Resources; from where are the additional course resources accessed. 

- Textbook and software requirements; what is needed, will students be able access digital copies,

Online learning has revolutionized the classroom, it comes with its own unique set of challenges, but with some forethought you can facilitate a very successful online course.

Resources:

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). Launching the online learning experience [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Image.  (n.d.) Retrieved from:  http://interactiveservices.com/2013/12/e-learning-development-choosing-the-right-technology/

Week One: Online Learning Communities

Over the last few years, the number of postsecondary institutions offering distance education courses has grown tremendously.  For example, in 2003, 81% of all institutions of higher education offered at least one fully online or hybrid course, up 25% from 2000-2001.

How do online learning communities significantly impact both student learning and satisfaction within online courses?

 They essentially create an environment where the amount of learning is limitless.  Their involvement directly impacts the satisfaction of the course.  They have to be learning professionals and take active roles in their learning.

What are the essential elements of online community building?

• Environment/area for interaction
• Resource lists (i.e. videos, articles, reference material)
• Effective facilitation
• Initial/follow-on questions
• Accessibility
• SCORM compliance
• Help desk support

Problem based learning scenarios that will contribute to interaction and collaboration.

 http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/761/building-an-online-learning-community

 
 How can online learning communities be sustained?

Continuous program improvement, they have to ensure the material stay relevant.

Technology that continues to support the course delivery.

What is the relationship between community building and effective online instruction?

• Promotes collaboration which increases the satisfaction of the course
• Reinforces learning through self reflection
• Promote self directed learning
• Create a social presence atmosphere/environment

http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/761/building-an-online-learning-community

References:

Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass

Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. A. (2011). Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction (Updated ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). Evaluating distance learning theory [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2010). Online learning communities [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu