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Exploring Online Tools For Teaching Alexandre Enkerli Department of Sociology and Anthropology Concordia University http://enkerli.wordpress.com/ http://www.slideshare.net/Enkerli

Exploring Online Tools for Teaching

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Presentation file for Alexandre Enkerli's workshop on exploring online tools for teaching. Held through Concordia University's Centre for Teaching and Learning Services (CTLS) on Monday, November 12, 2007.

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Page 1: Exploring Online Tools for Teaching

Exploring Online Tools For TeachingAlexandre Enkerli

Department of Sociology and AnthropologyConcordia University

http://enkerli.wordpress.com/http://www.slideshare.net/Enkerli

Page 2: Exploring Online Tools for Teaching

Introduction

• Overwhelmed?– Internet use by students– Internet use by colleagues

• Technology changes– Accompany teaching changes

• What can be done?– Moodle– Facebook– Other tools

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Workshop

• Exploration of tools– Inside classroom– Outside classroom

• Presentation– Experiences, learning contexts

• Round-table discussion– Some issues with educational technology

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Plan

• Self-introductions• Presentation on tools• Discuss other tools• Discussion on issues

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Why Am I Here?

• Nobody special (PTF at Soc. and Anthro.)• “Free, Open, Flexible: Rethinking Learning

Materials Online” (Spirit of Inquiry)• Tech/Teach backgrounds• Use of Online Tools• Ph.D. seminar

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Computer Technology

• “Wannabe geek” (online since 1993)• Hang out with “geeks”• Blogger since 2005

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Teaching

• Ghost of Piaget• Diverse teaching experience (Qc, NB, IN, MA)• Informal and formal teaching• Bridges between life and teaching• “Born to teach” Facebook group

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Controversial Stance?

• “Learning happens despite teaching”• “Tools meant to be used”– Think about possibilities (“sales pitch”)– Anti-deterministic

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Participant Introductions

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Presenting Tools

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Tools to Cover

• Moodle• Facebook• RefWorks• Slideshare

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Moodle

A Free, Open Source Course Management System for Online

Learning

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Moodle

• Learning/Course Management System• Virtual Learning Environment• Also: Sakai, Oncourse, Blackboard, WebCT• “Interactive course website.”– Provide content– Do activities

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Moodle Use

• Platform (modules, applications)• Resources (content) or Activities (interaction)• Constructivist model• Teacher-student connection• Moodle community

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Moodle Issues

• Outside authentication (ConU)• Training/documentation• Versions• Some confusing tools• Toward social networking

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Facebook

A social utility that connects you with the people around you

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Facebook

• 800 lbs. gorilla• Social phenomenon• “Where students are”• Social networking system• Platform with applications

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Facebook and Learning

• Socialisation• Peer-learning• Informal learning• Discovery• Use as CMS

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Facebook Issues

• Black hole? (“Addictive”)• Commercial site (advertising)• Scarcity of dedicated learning tools• Lack clear roles• “Where students are”

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RefWorks

Your online research management, writing and collaboration tool

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RefWorks Use

• Online citation manager– “Web-enabled EndNote”

• Concordia availability• Library catalogues (CLUES, MUSE...)• Google Scholar integration• Desktop integration (Microsoft Word)• RefShare

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RefWorks Issues

• Few students really use• Cumbersome login (ConU)• Few databases (PubMed, OCLC Trial)• Missing some Endnote features?– Attachment– Formatted list– Handheld/PDA

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SlideShare

YouTube for PowerPoint

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SlideShare Use

• Upload before class• Edit during class• Embed after class• Slidecast (with sound)

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Slideshare Issues

• PowerPoint/PDF/OpenDocument• Changed fonts• Posting delays• Indirect editing (unlike Zoho show)• Cumbersome audio synchronisation

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Other Tools

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Other tools

• Google Docs– Had to learn

• Skype• Screens• Email feedback

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Blogspot

• Comments• Feedback on assignments• Comfortable expressing themselves• Interconnect after class (Moodle gone)• Semi-public• Successful

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Research use of Web

• Online databases• Instead of entertainment• Patrick Labelle• Research librarians

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Online Workshops

• Dreamweaver• References from face-to-face workshop• Professional video• Program application• RefWorks workshop?• Download/show• IITS and CTLS• Refresher

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Basecamp?

• Storage• Large• Closed/private

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Discuss Issues

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Discuss Issues (examples)

• Comfort• Luddites and fear of technology• Shelters or windmills• Teacher control• Online/offline learning• Informal/formal learning• Resources (time, money)

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Attitudes• Technology proficiency• “Old-Fashioned”• Outside help• Want to learn• Experimentation• Concentrating on teaching vs. tools• Facebook too public• Textbook/didactic• Technology helps

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Time-consumption

• To learn• To use• To control• Focus on teaching

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Moodle frustration

• Abandon (lack of support)• Open Source (could be dealt with)• Assignment use• Came from Site Generator• Own way to use

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Expectations

• Ex. PowerPoint• Not about entertainment• Pandering to expectations• Bells and whistles, “Wow factor”– Tangible product of/for teaching

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Pleasing students

• Bother to show up?• Online evaluation– Teaching expectations• Tenure system• Part-time

• Learning styles– Ways to remember– Grades

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Student Diversity

• Non-traditional students• Students not sold on empty PowerPoint• Get to understand learning/teaching

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Change in university climate

• Service-based learners• Deep-level learners• Change in proportions• Autodidact/self-learning• Our expectations• As process• Disciplines• Excitement

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Legal Issues?

• Getting out of hand• Lawsuits?• “Paranoid fascist”• Student diversity

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Comfort level• Students’– Not that comfortable

• Teacher’s– Added stress for setting up (logistics)– Resource person (individual support)– We’re also learners

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Hope!• Been using a tool, comfortable– Need for something else?

• Use constructively/critically• Not prison• Special population