SCIENCE ROCKS!

BLENDED AND ONLINE TIPS, TOOLS, AND STRATEGIES

FRANCES KARELSBLINN COLLEGE

COURSE DESIGN

• Converting from face to face to blended/hybrid class• Lectures online, labs in the classroom

• Converting from face to face to fully online class• Prepackaged kits• https://moodle.coastlinelive.com/login/index.php

• Online simulations/Virtual Labs• SimBio• Be A Martian – Virtual Exploration & the Human Robotic Partnersh

ip• Some may come with your textbook• My Lab Mastering• Geology • Oceanography• Biology - https://

www.masteringbiology.com/site/login.html• Anatomy & Physiology• My Math Lab

COURSE DESIGN

BUILD YOUR OWN ADVENTURE• How to find material online to use for free• http://facultyecommons.org/how-to-find-creative-com

mons-licensed-material-on-media-sharing-sites/

• Citizen Science Projects• Zooniverse – Analyze Cancer Data• Project BudBurst – Help monitor changes in plants• Zooniverse – Classify Galaxies• More Zooniverse Projects• Scientific American Citizen Science Projects

VIRTUAL LABS / LAB EQUIPMENT

• HHMI Biointeractive Virtual Labs• http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/goodmanlab/vi/index.htm• http://www.udel.edu/biology/ketcham/microscope/scope.html• http://www.chemcollective.org/• http://www.math.uah.edu/stat/• http://virtuallabs.stanford.edu/• http://www.vlab.co.in/institute_detail.php?ins=001• http://

ceprap.ucdavis.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=137

TIPS• Course syllabus• Be specific about expectations• Include online attendance information• Include an awesome course calendar• Include approximate times for turnaround of

grades and/or feedback

TIP - INCLUDE A DETAILED CALENDARTuesday, January 27

Evolution of Populations Lab In Class: Evolution of Populations Lab Print & Bring Lab Instructions to class Lab Activity

At home before next class

Chapter 24 What to do at home: Ch. 24 PowerPoint Notes Ch. 24 Lecture recording Ch. 24 Study Questions Chapter 24 Quiz Print & Read Lizards Lab

Thursday, January 29

Lizards Lab In Class: Lizards Lab Bring Lizards Lab Instructions to class Lab Activity

At Home before next class

Chapter 25 What to do at home: Chapter 25 The Day the Mesozoic Died Video Print & Read Weighing the Evidence Lab Ch. 25 PowerPoint Notes Ch. 25 Lecture recording Ch. 25 Study Questions Chapter 25 QuizWhat is due by 9am Tuesday : Chapter 24 Quiz Chapter 25 Quiz

TIPSLMS course• Make them read the syllabus before they can

access anything else in the course and/or• Make them view a course orientation before they

can access anything in the course• Have regular, frequent due dates, included on your

course calendar• Choose an organization pattern that works for you,

and stick with it for the entire course

TIP - GET ORGANIZED

TOOLS• Set up your email on your phone so you can read the

emails wherever you are • Encourage students to use their phones to set reminders

for class work• Make your own FAQs for your classes and post online• Reliable, relevant videos• https://www.youtube.com/user/VideosatNSF• http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive

TOOLS

• Have an introductory discussion so students can get to know you and each other• You can use Skype, FaceTime or Blackboard

Collaborate to interact with students or guide them through labs• Students can use Skype to communicate with each

other and/or work together (Teamwork Assessment)

STRATEGIES• Weekly deadlines during the week will reduce the

amount of “emergency” emails you receive on the weekend (Tuesday at noon, Wednesday at 1pm, etc.)• Include the technology failure stipulation in your

syllabus• Give yourself a break – tell students in the syllabus

that if they email you in the evenings or on weekends, to expect to hear back from you the next day (24 hours) or Monday

STRATEGIES

• Have students post a picture in their profile so you can “see” what they look like• Post technology help line numbers so they know

whom to call• Know where free WIFI is in your area so you can

help students when their internet goes down

STRATEGIES• Consult others who teach online and blended

courses

• Frances Karels – Biology• 979-830-4406• Frances.Karels@blinn.edu• http://franceskarels.weebly.com/• http://franceskarels.yolasite.com/