creating engaging student communities in the online classroom, karen lynden

2013 NC3ADL Session Presented by Karen Lynden

Creating Engaging Student Communities

in the Online Classroom

In this hour we will…

Discuss how to create community and collaboration in the online classroom.

Techniques explored: Discussion assignments Dynamic group projects Service-learning projects

Share implementation strategies & assignment examples.

Welcome!

karen.lynden@rccc.edu

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Introductions

Please share your… Name Institution Role / Title Interest in this session topic

What do you feel are dominant, ongoing criticism of online learning?

1. Lack of personal connection between student and teacher

2. Lack of personal connection - peer to peer3. Lack of real-world experience for the student4. Lack of personal expression / opportunity to

question and debate5. Lack of ability to verify test validity

Interaction & Collaboration

What is the level of engagement offered by the course and what student interaction & collaboration takes place?

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Course Interaction & Collaboration

Instructions:

Gather into groups

Select a scribe & spokesperson

Answer the following questions & prepare to share your group’s answers

Questions: What are the obstacles in creating “an engaging online student community in a course?”How do you know a “an engaging student community” was created?What elements of your course(s) have been most effective in supporting / creating “an engaging online student community in a course?”

Creating Engaging Student Communities

There are several ways we can address these issues in the

Online Classroom…

Interaction & Collaboration

What is the level of engagement offered by the course?First impressionsFoundation / planning

First Impressions

Opening announcement Faculty Information Can you connect to me?

See me Hear me Reach me

Faculty Interaction

Hello, I am a real person!

And so are you! Students get to know my voice from the beginning:

▪ Audio introduction▪ Jing presentations▪ Interviews for projects▪ Tone of written communication

I get to know you too:▪ Discussion boards▪ Reports and projects▪ Encouraging phone calls (or office meetings if that works for the student)

Interaction and CollaborationCommunication Strategies

Provide multiple opportunities for interaction▪ Asynchronous communication promotes critical reflection▪ Synchronous activities offer real-time interactions

Are you incorporating synchronous activities in your online classes?

Just phone calls upon request? Not frequently but have offered opportunities for real-time

interactions? If yes.. How?

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Are we providing the resources necessary for students to collaborate?

Tools Possible UseDiscussion BoardsChat / VC (text or video)

Group FeaturesEmail / MessagesBlogs/Wikis/Journals

Foundation

Is the course designed before students enter? If not, why?

Is the course design easy to navigate?

Design Foundation

Design Foundation

Not in the textbook What unique experiences are offered in the course? What authentic experiences are offered in the course?

Interaction & Collaboration

What student interaction & collaboration takes place? Examples Shared:

Discussion Boards Group Projects:

▪ E.U. Global Perspectives ▪ Big 5▪ Service Learning

Learning Continuum

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(1) Charles Merrill, 1960Educational Media

Interaction and Collaboration

Development of Learning Community Communication activities build a sense of

community▪ Student-student interaction ▪ Student-instructor interaction

Collaboration activities reinforce course content and learning outcomes

Interaction and Collaboration

Interaction Logistics Guidelines explaining

required participation Expectations regarding

quality of communication Rubric included to explain

evaluation Instructor actively

participates and provides feedback to students

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Best Practices

Clearly communicate expectations for participation in the groups and criteria for evaluation

Use discussion boards and other interactive activities to encourage critical thinking and inquiry

Establish rubrics for evaluation of discussion posts

Provide feedback to students via announcements and email as appropriate

Photo credit: http://www.moillusions.com

If you GRADE it, they will show up!

Weekly Discussions

Project 1:Global Connections

Project 2: Big 5

Project 3: Service Learning

Writing Good Discussion Questions

Use Bloom’s Taxonomy to vary question types Include the details about your expectations:

Due dates Interaction guidelines / requirements Format / formality Content requirements

Use a rubric to evaluate

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Rubric

Why did I earn that score?

What can I do in the future to earn all of the points?

Personalized Feedback provided

Discussions

Discussions

Discussions

Global Connections

Congratulations! You are a team leader at a company for a new project. You and your team will all be abroad in the country for 4 weeks. You are creating materials (a Country Guide) for your

work team to prepare to work with a client in a EU country of your choice.

Creating this guide is the first step in preparing your team on how to interact effectively and understand business etiquette during your travel. Assume the host business contacts speak very good English.

Global Connections

Global Connections

Big 5 Project

Big 5 Project

Team Formation

Coaching The Team

360 Evaluation: Self

360 Evaluation: Peer

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdossett/7173791471/

Service Learning ProjectUpon successfully completion, you will have: • Actively participated in team setting and the

stages of team development. • Practiced management skills such as

professional conduct, positive negotiation, planning and communication skills.

In keeping course learning outcome objectives in mind, students will complete the report incorporating course vocabulary and

concepts (teamwork, leadership and management theories, coaching, managing conflict, stewardship, servant

leadership, organizational leadership topics, etc.).

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“Studies have demonstrated that people who feel a bond

with their fellow students have a higher likelihood of

experiencing success.”

-Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.

Student Experience Highlights “The service learning project was one

of my favorite activities throughout this course. It was a great experience as well as a learning opportunity.”

“…the best was the group projects. This was a practical application of what we were studying.“

“It was great working with you in the group projects. I totally agree that being able to work as a group through distance is important.“

“To me the most valuable part of this course was the group projects. They allowed me to get to know my peers and work together. It allowed me to learn how to deal with people using new ideas and working with a team through distance.”

“It has been an absolutely wonderful semester working with all of you and reading your responses to our discussion boards every week. I really feel like I got to know a few of you by what everyone posted.”

Learner Support

Feedback: Learners have an

opportunity to give feedback both during course delivery and after course completion

How else are we getting feedback?

Hey Teacher! Do you have

your listening ears on?

Closing Comments

Next Steps

And why are we doing this??

Barriers: Lacking planning time Templates restrictive Grading time Drama!

Consider: Institutional planning Creating buy-in / balance Job enjoyment &

enrichment

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My PlanIdea! When? Notes

Many Influences