Active Learning Ideas

WebCT

Level 1: Web supported / Web-presence Web supported (Web-presence) courses are courses where basic materials about the course and / or instructor are placed on a web site to provide ease of access to course information.

Level 1: Web supported / Web-presence (Examples)

Online Course MaterialsMaterials/Handouts/Grades– Course materials/handouts and grades can be

accessed from the web. Examples include:– Course syllabus– Instructor Information– Course handouts– Grades

On-Ground Activities– All course activities, discussions, tests, etc.

occur in the on-ground course (face-to-face).

On Ground Activities

Online Activitie

s

Level 1: Web supported / Web presence:

Level 2: Web-enhanced coursesWeb-enhanced courses follow a traditional curricular design but incorporate various online activities to enhance learning and support class management and delivery.

Level 2: Online Course Activities• Email or Discussion Board

– Email or the Discussion Board is used for communication and possibly handing in short assignments.

Level 2 – Email Example

Prior to class time students • send an email to the instructor (or post

to the discussion board) their pre-class writing assignments, a short paper.

• The instructor responds to these messages or postings in class.

• No online interaction is involved.

Level 2 – Email Example

Students would:

• Describe in their own words some idea from the reading

• Give personal examples and state their prospective on the topic

• State the part of the assignment they had the most difficulty understanding (their muddiest moment)

Level 2 – Email Example

Benefits for Students• Informs the student what the professor finds important• Insures that students are prepared for class.• Helps students to master the material at a deeper level.• Putting ideas into their own words transfers the

information they have read into long term memory.• Students construct knowledge when they create their

own examplesBenefits for Instructors• Instructor scans documents before class and so has a

better idea of what students understand

Level 2: Web-enhanced courses

On Ground Activities

OnlineActivities

Level 3: Hybrid / Blended / Web Centric courses • Courses in which a significant portion of the

learning activities have been moved online, • Time traditionally spent in the classroom is

reduced but not eliminated; – A deliberate curricular design that includes the

blending of the best pedagogy of in-person instruction with the best pedagogy of technology-enriched online experiences to meet course learning objectives

– Creates an educational atmosphere that promotes active learning.

Level 3: Hybrid / Blended / Web Centric courses

On Ground Activities Online

Activities

On Ground Activities

Online Activities

Level 4: Web-based / Full web courses • The majority of class interaction and

management takes place in the online environment

• May include synchronous and/or asynchronous learning activities

• May require proctored exams and may include opportunities for face-to-face orientations, but there are no physical class attendance requirements.

Level 4: Web-based / Full web courses

On Ground Activities

Online Activitie

s

Online Activitie

s

Level 4: Creating Learning Modules• Learning modules are usually

designed around teaching a particular concept.

Check out some of the learning modules (objects) posted on the MERLOT web site, http://www.merlot.org.

Level 4: Content Module SettingsA content module may be set to become

available:– After a certain date– When a student completes a certain quiz– When a student completes a certain quiz

and earns a grade greater than a specific percentage.

– When a student uploads an assignment to an assignment drop box.

– To only a specific student(s)

Level 4: Creating Learning Modules• A link to file that

introduces the topic. (PowerPoint presentation with audio narration converted using Impatica or a video)

• A link to a web page containing a text transcription of the presentation or video.

• A link to a file containing a reading, or a reference to a reading, that provides more in-depth information about the topic.

• A link to the glossary tool

• A link to a image database

Level 4: Creating Learning Modules• A link to a web address

outside of the course

• A link to CD ROM content

• A link to any type of file. (Students may need additional software or plug-ins to view or manipulate the file.)

• A link to a file that contains assignment directions.

• A link to the Assignment Tool

• A link to the Quiz Tool

Assignment #1

• Identify the level of “online-ness” you want to create for each of your courses

• Request course shells - http://www.mtsu.edu/webctsupport

• Browse through WebCT Support web site – Make sure that you read the information found

through the link, Maintenance/Backups.

• Make an appointment with Faculty Instructional Technology Center, staff or take Intro WebCT course

Active Learning Categories and Associated Tools Communication/Collaboration Email Discussion Student Presentation Tool Student Homepages

Communication/Collaboration (Email, Discussion, Student Presentation Tool, Student Homepages)

Active Learning Categories and Associated Tools Rote-Learning Self Tests: Quizzes that are not

graded and can be taken multiple times

Respondus StudyMate Modules Quandary

Active Learning Categories and Associated Tools Simulation Impaticized PowerPoint or PowerPoint

presentation in original form Flash Animation Video

Active Learning Categories and Associated ToolsPresentation of New Topics Readings Online audio enhanced presentations

Impaticized PowerPoint presentations Video presentations

Active Learning Categories and Associated ToolsGaming/Role Playing Text based

discussion board

Flash-based Many other programmed tools

Active Learning Categories and Associated ToolsStudent Evaluation Quiz Tool Assignment Tool Student Presentation Tool Discussion board postings and

associated rubric

Assignment #2

Create: • A detailed plan for one of course at the level of

online-ness that you specified in assignment #1.

• A general plan for taking that same course to the next level of online-ness.

• Share this plan with an, Instructional Technology Specialists.

• Share your plan with another faculty member who teaches the same subject as you or a faculty member who you feel comfortable sharing with.

Evaluating Student Learning: Projects

• Assign projects that require students to utilize and synthesize concepts they have learned in other course activities. – turn in these projects through the assignment

drop box or by uploading them to a public or private student presentation area in WebCT. http://www.mtsu.edu/webctsupport/students/stu_tips_presentation.htm

• Individual Student Projects• Group Projects

Evaluating Student Learning:Quizzes

• Question types:– multiple choice, matching, short answer, and

paragraph. Multiple choice, matching, and short answer

• Link to images with missing labels. – Students type in multiple short answers each

worth a portion of the total question value.

• Link to audio files. – Students listen to the audio file and answer

questions..

• Site license For Respondus and StudyMate

Evaluating Student Learning:Grading Discussion Postings

Develop a grading rubric that Encourages class discussion Makes the composition of postings

pleasant and informative Is not overwhelming for the instructor

to use when it becomes time to grade

Assignment #3

Create assignments and assessments for your course. Create at least one quiz, one discussion board grading rubric, and one student project.

Disabilities / Accessibility

• After storyboarding Learning Module activities revaluate them to make sure all activities are accessible to students with disabilities.

• Develop pages that are accessible to "all" users who may want to access them. http://www.mtsu.edu/~sdennis/accessibility/index.htm

Assignment #4

• Evaluate each of your course activities for accessibility issues. Make a plan for resolving these issues.

• Read through each of the handout appendices

• Download and install MTSU eLearning site license software and install on you computer. (PC users only.)