You Want Me to Take My Course Where?

Re-Conceptualizing your course for online teaching and learning
Robin Parker
Kent State University- School of Communication Studies

The session grew out of the need for better quality courses online.  Many people take what they have and just put it online.  There is much we can do online that we cannot due in the online classroom, this is an opportunity to do things I cannot do in the f2f classroom.

She shared that she teaches her course different online than she does in the classroom.  Think about the way you think learning happens in your world...how do students learn?  Learn by doing, although some students (adult learners still like to learn passively).

Drop out rates for online courses is about 1/3. 

DIME--organizing scheme for this workshop is the metaphor for online learning.
Things can change on a "dime"--dynamic
Smallest coin that is of any use at this time.  It is tangible and of value.

Design
Interaction
Media
Evaluation

Think about a metaphor about your students and how they learn.  Our table had metaphors for students shopping at a mall and gathering information at different locations and in different ways with the teacher as facilitator.

Mall Metaphor Supports:
Learner Choice
It is a social place
It is an environment
Peer and instructor support

Other metaphors:
Building a House
  Foundation-Learning Styles
  Rooms-Content
  Roof-Success at college and career

Design of Instruction

• Target Audience
• Learning Objectives--make these behavioral and observable
• Instructional Methods

Her Instructional Design Metaphor
    Office environment--upload resume, upload photo
                                   detailed job description (syllabus)
                                   apply to Learning Services Consultants

      Check computer requirements, are you ready, resources--Assess if they are ready for resource based learning

    

Students are HIRED!  Congratulations you are hired!  Learn how course is organized, how do I move through the course. Course colleagues-instructor as manager (audio file)--students load pictures of themselves and post bios

   

Students go to WORK!  Set up like an office--metaphor sets up a visual environment and students progress through folders as this is a job.  Lessons start out with an intro, video is by linking out to YouTube, then they take a Knowledge Check that they take until they get it all right, things are adaptively released so students must go through the steps, move on to applying organizational theory and writing.  All nine lessons are consistent in structure.

    WaterCooler is there for discussions and collaboration.

    Learning Library for Resources.

What are some ways students could authentically practice the skills that work within your online course environment?

Great handouts and structure for those who need to understand what to think about when you design online classes!

Comments

[Rich James]

I liked the idea of using a metaphor to organize the class and thematically link the learning experiences. The right metaphor can really inspire active learning with highly engaged learners.