Online+Teaching

=Online Teaching & Learning=

This wiki space is dedicated to the collection of materials to support teachers making the transition to teaching in an online setting. The resources collected here are intended to stimulate dialog around what works best, what sorts of changes need to be made pedagogically (andragogically) in moving teaching practices to an online setting, as well as considerations for planing for successful online learning events. This workshop is a work in progress, and does not constitute a recommendation for one online tool versus another, therefore additional materials may be added here from time to time. Be sure to check back.
 * Sizing up the options....**

Ms. Su Verma, Curriculum Specialist, vermas@iu1.k12.pa.us, 724-938-3241 (x 268) Dr. Mara Linaberger, Curriculum Specialist, linabergerm@iu1.k12.pa.us 724-938-3241 (x 267)
 * Your Facilitators for Today's Workshop**
 * skilled online instructor in Blackboard, has taught a variety of online courses for IU1 over the past 5 years, most focused on ESL certification, induction topics, and paraprofessional workshops.
 * degree in instructional technology, skilled with web-based technologies for alternative distance learning activities (wikis, blogs, texting, videoconferencing), 4 years of experience in taking online classes through Blackboard, and online teaching.

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The Results
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Introduction
What is online learning? What are virtual classrooms? What is synchronous versus asynchronous learning? These are all questions you may be asking yourself. Two important terms you'll need to consider when teaching online are **//synchronous//** and **//asynchronous//**. Synchronous generally refers to real time, live or face to face learning opportunities. Asynchronous refers to archived or anytime, anywhere learning opportunities.

The video below does a great job of explaining the history of synchronous and asynchronous learning, and defining what virtual classrooms and online learning may look like. Watch the video and think about how online teaching is similar to, and different from your own real-time classroom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUdfE19s4wU

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Similarities & Differences
Together, let's brainstorm some of the ways that online learning is similar to the traditional classroom and how it is different. During today's workshop we'll ask for a volunteer to open up the wiki and type in our shared responses.
 * **Similarities** || **Differences** ||
 * * both types of teaching incorporate
 * Cooperative learning is available in both types of learning
 * Include different types of assessments and activities to vary the educational pieces (auditory content, visual, PowerPoints, etc.)
 * Students are still required to turn in assignments
 * Differentiated instruction in both
 * Gradebooks
 * Students will discuss what is on the test both online and classroom
 * Goal of student outcome/achievement is consistent in both styles
 * Face-to-face visual lessons both lets you capture instruction || * online promotes while traditional classrooms _
 * we're not all in the same space
 * classroom setup is different
 * preparation and materials is very different and level of effort
 * discussions are much richer and more people participate--every voice is heard
 * Individual pacing--learner control can return and participate when time allows
 * Similarity of learning style--may have similar computer backgrounds
 * Social interaction is different--lacks voice tone and can be misinterpreted
 * Teacher rapport--smile, etc. is different--develop a different teacher intuition
 * High school versus adult learners, high school may not realize their level of acquisition
 * Administering assessments--variety of options
 * Lack the same instant corrective feedback that is available in the classroom
 * Much easier to complete cross curricular learning
 * Time is flexible
 * Eliminates preconceived visual perception
 * Lower level students respond because time is not an issue and they can take their time to respond
 * Disruptive students have less opportunity to disrupt the class--relieves instructor from common classrooms disruptions
 * Pacing and open discussion can continue beyond classroom time constraints
 * Students may expect the instructor to be online at all times to answer questions instantly ||

Best Practices in Blended Learning
The video from USC below discusses some of the ideas to take in consideration when preparing to teach in an online setting. We'll watch and discuss this video as time allows. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe61eFxhxVM

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Hybrid Classes
Hybrid classes are when you mix traditional classroom meetings with online spaces for learning and collaboration. Is a hybrid class in your future as a teacher? Here is a great article that articulates what makes [|a good hybrid class].

Tools for Online Teaching
Today we'll examine two tools for online teaching and collaboration. Blackboard, a traditional "online content management system" behaves much more like a traditional classroom. There are lessons, assignments, discussions, activities, tests, and even a gradebook that keeps track of itself! Wikis on the other hand are more geared towards true collaboration and free-style independent learning. Let's take a good look at both. Please note, while the content in both areas below is interesting and relevant, your goal today is to look at the two tools and to think about which one best suits your online learning goals and needs (think product comparison versus content).

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 * < **Blackboard** ([|BlendedSchools]) ||< **Wikis** (Wikispaces) ||
 * < We'll link out from here to a blackboard course for you to examine. The topic of the course is: Online Teaching. Su Verma will demonstrate the process below first, then you will explore this topic further if it interests you.

> Password: (your instructor will give you this too)
 * 1) Click on this link to open Blended Schools: [|http://www.blendedschools.blackboard.com]
 * 2) Click on "Blackboard Login"
 * 3) Username: (your instructor will give you a username)
 * 1) Click on the "courses" tab
 * 2) Click on "PD.20.TandLONLINE1-2.IU: Teaching & Learning Through Online Classes"
 * 3) Work with the buttons on the left hand side. Follow each one to a deeper and deeper level, reading each of the lessons prepared for you.
 * 4) Post on the discussion board area, if time allows.
 * 5) Think about how this way of teaching & learning is similar to, or different from your classroom methods, how can you use this to add to your teaching/classroom. ||< Have a look at a wiki we recently created for a workshop at IU1. The topic was "PDE's Data Tools". Mara Linaberger will demonstrate the process first below, then you will explore this topic further if it interests you.


 * 1) Click on this link to the Data Tools Wikispace: http://datatools.wikispaces.com/
 * 2) Use the navigation bar to the left as your "agenda" for the workshop
 * 3) Click on each item in successive tab and read what is on the page, following the "lesson" as it progresses from simple data tools to more complex ones.
 * 4) Notice that each "page" of the workshop has a discussion tab at the top (you can look in the tab to see the discussions that workshop participants had)
 * 5) If you are interested in wikis, you may click "Join this Wiki", set up an account with Wikispaces, and click to request membership (which allows you to post to the discussion tabs).
 * 6) Think about how this way of teaching & learning is similar to, or different from your classroom methods. ||

Sizing up the Options
Let's do a sort of Venn diagram together. After looking at Blackboard and Wikis, what characteristics stood out for you? What was unique to each tool? What were the places where they overlapped? Again, we'll ask someone in the class to fill in the chart below with our brainstorming.

(eg: Blackboard) || Elements Common to Both || Elements Unique to Web 2.0 Applications (eg: Wikis) ||
 * Elements Unique to Content Management Systems
 * * A CMS allows you....
 * Grade book
 * ???Track user level data
 * Privacy
 * Plagiarism
 * Test Banks...assessment tools
 * Data mining
 * Built in tools...live classroom, discussion board
 * User consistency with interface
 * Secure Digital Dropbox
 * Secure learning groups || * Both tools allow...
 * Discussion tools
 * Interactive media
 * Posting of text-based information
 * Check history
 * Collaboration/Group Work
 * Assessment
 * Student/Learner-Centered || * A wiki allows you...
 * Open to all
 * Bring and imbed tools from outside
 * Must bring assessment tools from outside
 * Promotes real collaboration...collaborative building of knowledge
 * allow students to look at each other's work ||

Untested & Unendorsed
There are new web 2.0 technologies coming online every day. As teachers, we've never lived at a better time - tools we can use for teaching and learning, at little to no cost, all housed up on the Internet. Here are some you might choose for your online teaching, which are new, and untested (and un-endorsed by us at this time) Let us know if we should think otherwise!

Online Teaching Tools
[|Studeous] - http://www.studeous.com/index.cfm [|Haiku] - http://www.haikuls.com/ Moodle - free classroom authoring tool. http://moodle.org/ Global Classroom - free Moodle course http://www.globalclassroom.us/ NineHub - FREE Moodle Hosting http://www.ninehub.com/ Curriki - free learning management system Yacapaca – free online courses with student assessment and project timelines http://yacapaca.com/ Visionlearning - create an online classroom environment with modules and interactive classroom resources. Udutu - online course authoring tool http://www.udutu.com/ eLearningCommunity Elgg- download and install the free open source classroom management system edu 2.0 http://www.edu20.org/ ECTO Learnhub - create an online virtual classroom and community groups [|http:////learnhub.com///] Wordcircle http://www.wordcircle.com/ Tutorom http://www.tutorom.com/ LectureShare KEEP Toolkit

Online Quizzes
ThatQuiz - online classroom and quiz generator ProProfs - create and share online exams and flash cards, provides instant feedback http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/

Additional Resources
Below, you'll find other resources we have located to assist you in exploring the online teaching process, and the best practices to utilize in guiding students instruction. You may use them to differentiate for yourself during today's workshop, or to extend your learning beyond today.

Website Resources
[|San Juan College] [|A Penn State Course on Best Practices in Online Teaching] [|Online Design Checklist] (for evaluating your online course elements) [|Effective Group Management] [|Blackboard - Best Practices] [|Steps for Online Teaching Success]**
 * [|Tenessee Board of Regents]

Articles
[|A Synthesis of New Research on K-12 Online Learning] [|Tips & Tricks for Teaching Online] [|The Effects Distance Education on K-12 Outcomes: A Meta Analysis] [|Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: A Review of State Level Policy & Practice] [|Measuring Success: Evaluation Strategies for Distance Learning]**
 * [|Best Practices Online]

Wikis for Online Learning//
[|Wiki Wisdom (article)]**
 * [|Flat Classrooms]
 * CoolCatTeacher**

Discussion
Lets wrap up. Today and beyond, you may use the discussion tab at the top of this wiki to talk about any issues or concerns that still remain. You might discuss: What is your plan for online learning and for implementation in your classroom? Do you have a particular tool which you think will best serve your/your students needs at this time? What training or support do you still need to get going with online teaching? How can we help you to begin or extend your online teaching practices?

Summative Assessment
We'd like to know how this workshop has changed your perceptions about online teaching and learning. Please go back to the top of the wiki and retake our formative assessment survey to help us know if we have had an impact on your learning today. Because of the timestamp, we'll be able to see the change in your responses.

Evaluation
Now that you've taken today's workshop, we'd like to get your feedback on how to make it better. [|Please take the linked survey], in addition to completing your IU1 workshop evaluation. Thanks! - Su and Mara