What is the Virtual Classroom?
A place without walls, where classes are held over the Internet and students and instructors interact using asynchronous and synchronous forms of communication to achieve a desired learning outcome.
Where do you start?Develop goals and objectives
Take a course yourself
Sketch out a rudimentary design of classroom
Prepare to design a learning community
Prepare content in detail
Prepare media that will be used
Divide content into manageable modules
Decide on communication tools
Don’t assume that everyone will be techno-savvy
Hardware and software needs
Always have a Plan “B”
Website StructureHome Page
Instructor/Author Course Info Reference
Syllabus
Announcements
Calendar
Modules
Readings
Lecture Notes
Presentations
Exams
Student Tools
Bulletin Board
CHAT
Personal Pages
Class Lists
Grades
Resources
Web Links
Webquests
Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author
Contact Info
Help/FAQS
Home Page
Instructor/Author Course Info Reference
Syllabus
Announcements
Calendar
Modules
Readings
Lecture Notes
Presentations
Exams
Student Tools
Bulletin Board
CHAT
Personal Pages
Class Lists
Grades
Resources
Web Links
Webquests
Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author
Contact Info
Help/FAQS
Some Samples….WebCT
http://emerald.ucsc.edu/~jsr/EART10/
http://educedit.educ.ttu.edu/Edit2318/ServerScripts/home.php
Dr. Nancy Maushak
Preparing the Learner
Start slow
Familiarize them with the website
Introduce tools
Create demos
Allow students to practice
Provide feedback to each student’s initial contributions
Preparing the Learner, cont….
Introduce the same things you would in a F2F
Make expectations very clear
Procedures
Be friendly and personable
Netiquette
Build cohesiveness
Instructor RolesTracking
Goals and Objectives
Counseling
Motivation
Information Management
Assignment Management
Grading/ Feedback
Archiving information and records
Maintenance
Virtual Classroom Management
Virtual Office Hours
Communication Tools
Content Management
Assessment
Time
Netiquette
Resources
"Virtual Office Hours"?Virtual Office Hours utilize electronic communication methods Virtual Office Hours utilize electronic communication methods to supplement existing faculty office hours, by providing:to supplement existing faculty office hours, by providing:
Faculty-student communication
Online question and answer sessions
Online delivery of course materials
Student Benefits of Virtual Office HoursSend questions to course professors
Receive answers from professors through public posting
Browse other students' public questions with respective answers
Browse course materials: problem sets, handouts, articles, exams, keys
Download or print course materials
Participate in online study groups
Link to worldwide information resources
Send confidential email communications to faculty
Student Endorsements: 96% of UCLA sophomore chemistry
students polled say YES to VOH!
Faculty Benefits of Holding Virtual Office Hours
Assist students who miss live office hours
Have office hours when you are away from campus
Have office hours in a distance education setting
Post answers to questions publicly so all students can benefit
Link related facts through hypertext
Make course materials available without building or library hours limitations
Map student questions conceptually through FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Teach concepts by linking to 3-D graphics, animations and audio tracks
Asynchronous vs. Synchronous
Asynchronous- Communication between instructor and student or students and students can take place anytime, anywhere.
Synchronous-The teaching/learning communication process in which the course instructor and students come together at the same time.
Types of Asynchronous and Synchronous Communications
Synchronous
Instant Message Service
Chat
Whiteboard
Video/Audio Conferencing
AsynchronousElectronic MailThreaded DiscussionsWebpageListserv
ConsiderationsMake sure that the use of communication tools achieve the educational goals
Make sure that the students know that you are paying attention
Utilize all the of the communication tools that you have chosen
Always clearly define topics
Use disclaimers
Try your best to acknowledge each individual
Encourage collaboration
ConsiderationsMake sure that everything is up-to-date
Ongoing assessment
Make sure content and activities foster collaborative learning and active participation
Be mindful of ADA compliancy
Focus on content mastery,
not just task mastery
ConsiderationsTry not to encourage memorization and
rote
Consider essays over objective testing
Create assessments that foster reflective and thoughtful responses
Repeatable assessment
Allow ample time
Turnaround Time
Online students expect quick turnaround time on feedback and communication
Set limits on turnaround time at the
very beginning
Automate things as much
as possible
Tips
Promise less than you deliver
Monitor, but don’t respond to all discussion
board messages
Let them know that you expect them to take
the lead in discussions
Delegate authority
If possible, use a different email
address for each course(McLean)
Tips continued………..
Require that each student only use a primary email address
Use an autoresponder function
Keep email files for each class
Create a list of FAQ’s
Post or email general
announcements every few days
(McLean)
Considerations
Utilize the University Library
Use E-Reserve for materials
Develop a list of content related links to the Internet
Create a glossary
Maintain and keep current
To practice courteous behavior:
Respect each other's viewpoints.
Wait to be recognized to speak.
DON’T SHOUT (all caps).
Don't use profanity.
Don't flame (put down someone
else's ideas).
Keeping A Sense of Order
Always sign on using your real name or your assigned ID
The Instructor will operate as Moderator
Saying "hi" to each person is not necessary To comment, use "!" to indicate and wait to be called on. This is the equivalent of hand-raising.
To ask a question, use "?" to indicate and wait to be called on. This is the equivalent of hand-raising.
Keeping A Sense of Order
When you are chatting, use "..." to indicate that you are still typing and will be continuing your statement.
When you have finished your comment or question, use normal punctuation, type "end."
Recognize the next person.
This procedure will help keep students from stepping on each others comments and will
make it easier to follow the discussion.
References
• Katherine Austin StalcupManaging Director, Technology Support
• Lisa R. MillsInstructional Technology Consultant
• McLean, Jennifer. The Virtual Vortex: Managing Your Time as a Distance Educator. Accessed at http://www.ipfw.edu/as/tohe/2002/papers/mclean1/htm