Delivering VCE Physics

100% Online & Interactive

Bruce CarpenterVictorian Virtual Learning Network (Physics)Bendigo Senior Secondary College

STAV/AIP VCE Physics Teachers’ Conference 2013

Virtual Learning Network

Website http://vln.bssc.edu.au

Demonstration course

username: physicsconference

password: vvlnguest

Our Brief

• Proof of concept project for DEECD• “can you teach VCE subjects entirely

online”• Alleviate difficulties of remote schools• Explore online teaching & learning

strategies• Utilise internet, multimedia, Web 2.0• Use a ‘Blended Learning’ Model

Blended Learning Model

“combining online delivery of educational content with the best features of classroom interaction and live instruction to personalise learning, allow thoughtful reflection and differentiate instruction from student to student across a diverse range of learners”

Why?• Shortage of Physics Teachers• Small classes• Aligns with student expectations• Short trials with schools in the

Bendigo district.• Trialled with BSSC Unit 3&4 Physics

Classes 2009-2011

2012

Provided remote Physics to:• Charlton Secondary College• Baimbridge College (Hamilton)• Swan Hill Secondary College• Murrayville Community College• Individual students at Bendigo

Senior Secondary College

2013

Providing unit 1-2 Physics to:• Swifts Creek School• Cohuna Secondary College• Camperdown College• Maryborough Education Centre• Rushworth P-12 College• Murrayville Community College• Werrimull P-12 School• Bendigo Senior Secondary College

2013

Providing Unit 3-4 Physics to :• Wycheproof P-12 college• Baimbridge College (Hamilton)• McClelland College Frankston• Murrayville Community College• Maryborough Education Centre• Werrimull P-12 School• Swifts Creek• Bendigo Senior Secondary College

Online Course Features

• Anytime, anywhere, 24/7 availability• Software independent (no special

installations apart from Java and Stellarium)

• Must be instructional• Provide similar experience to classrooms• Adobe Connect sessions• Individual help via Skype

Funding• Four Years @ 0.6 to

develop Units 1 to 4

• Partly DEECD• Partly Multimedia

Victoria Grant

Funding 2013 and beyond

• NBN – Enabled Education & skills Services Program (NBN-ESS) Federal Government

• Broadband Enabled Innovation Program (BEIP) State Government

There is a lot of material already available, however...

• Not comprehensive for our course• Not always instructional• Curriculum focus is unsuitable• Static documents / text based - The ‘Electronic Filing Cabinet’

Research

• Internet searches• Looking for courses not just

activities• Extensive travel interstate and

overseas

Visits to distance/online education providers in

• Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania• ULearn Conference Nov 2010,

Christchurch New Zealand• Virtual Schools Symposium,

Phoenix, Arizona ( Nov 2010)• Idaho Digital Learning Academy,

Boise Idaho• Riverside Virtual School, Los

Angeles

Vendors

• Not useful• Many resources out there• Very few written for VCE curriculum• Bound up in yearly pay per

student/school software fees

Typical US Online Course• Assembled from a range of resources• Includes Vendor provided learning

objects• Mainly text based• Works in the US (different school

culture)• Not so sure about applying this to

Australian physics students

The VVLN Online Physics Course

Learning Management System (LMS)• MOODL

E

• It’s Free!

Moodle Features

• Progress bar• Submission Tasks• Online Tests• Forum• Tracking student progress• New Forums, Help forums

Extra Features

• Skype using document camera• Adobe Connect meetings

http://vln.bssc.edu.au

Instructional Videos

• Teacher narration• Explanation of theory• Worked examples• Branching options

Instructional Videos• An engaging introduction• Strategically placed animations,

tables, graphs, fly-in text comments, diagrams, video clips.

Instructional Videos• A ‘screencasting’ approach• Rare• Involve all usual features of a good

lesson• Multi-sensory (see, hear, do)• Virtual Pointing• “rough and unpolished”• Authentic or “real”• Easily edited and improved

DEMONSTRATION

• Instructional Video features• Semi notes• Virtual Prac Activity• Quizlet

DEMONSTRATION

• Semi notes

DEMONSTRATION

• Instructional Video• Unit 2 Physics – Energy

Transformations

DEMONSTRATION

• Virtual Prac Activity• Virtual Prac Instructions• PhET Simulation – Energy Skate

Park

DEMONSTRATION• Quizlet

Remote Online Lessons• Answers to set questions supplied• Submission Tasks• Individual SKYPE sessions

Findings from trials at BSSC• Fast students go faster• They attempt extension questions• Slower students can rewind and

catch up• Illness, sport, camps not such a

problem• Can integrate prac work

continuously• VCE results at least as good as

traditional class.

Advantages over traditional class

• Can help to train student teachers• Benefits of years of teaching

experience

How do we Make the Resources?

• Notebook (Smartboard) Software• Adobe Captivate 6 Software• Screen capture with eLearning tools• Storyboard in Notebook or

PowerPoint• Narrate each slide• Embellish with emphasis

Slides created using Notebook Software

Slides are imported into Adobe Captivate

Each slide is narrated

How do students Like it?

• Many student flip - flop• Better student engagement• Clear improvement over previous

years• Other teachers notice the

improvement• No student training needed• No student resistance

Teacher Impact

• Teacher’s role changes fundamentally

• ‘Sage on the Stage’ to ‘Guide on the Side’

• Class time available for directly addressing student concerns.

• You will know your students better

Response

• Overwhelmingly positive so far

• We recognise it is not for everyone

• It has worked for us• Low dropout rate• Results as good as expected

if not better

The Future

• Delivery to more remote schools• National Physics Curriculum• Revision Lectures• Adjustments due to no June Exam

(2013)• More VCE subjects to be developed• Publish to a range of mobile devices• Galaxy Tab 10.1 (will play our Flash

videos)• iPad App ?

Other VLN online Courses

• Maths Methods Units 1-2• Psychology Units 1&2• Specialist Maths 3&4• Chemistry 1&2 (under construction)• Legal Studies 1-4 (under

construction)• Health 1-4 (under construction)• General Maths (under construction)

Questions?

Bruce Carpenter

Virtual Learning Network – Physics

Bendigo Senior Secondary College

carpenter.bruce@bssc.edu.au

Website http://vln.bssc.edu.au

Demonstration course

username: physicsconference

password: vvlnguest