elearning and networking technologies to mimic the in-person experience
DESCRIPTION
Conducting an online graduate-level course poses many technological challenges that aren’t often experienced in e-Learning, which typically involves undergraduate-level students watching slideshow presentations. Not only were the students of Theory and Practice of Collaborative Fisheries Research course expected to view lectures synchronously, they were expected to verbally contribute to discussions in the online classroom, and occasionally present their own lecture. Outside of the classroom, PIs hoped to provide a private social networking space for students to interact with the goal of developing a future cohort of professional researchers interested in working collaboratively with industry. Following a needs and goals assessment, technologies were chosen that resulted in an overall successful solution. This presentation will review the considerations, opportunities, and challenges of conducting an online experience to mimic in-person education and networking.TRANSCRIPT
Educational Technology in Practice
Distance Learning, Social Networking, and
Professional Cohort Development
Who am I?
• Writer/editor • Project manager • PR professional • Videographer/photographer • eLearning/Development beginner
Hello! I’m Janet Krenn, a
Communicator with Virginia Sea Grant.
Who am I not?
• An IT professional • A computer whiz • An A/V specialist • A web designer or developer
… but I know enough to be dangerous!
eLearning Considerations
Easy • Asynchronous • Few people • Few inputs • Observers
Challenging • Synchronous • Lots of people • Many input points • Active participants
e Continuum of Difficulty
eLearning Considerations
Easy • Asynchronous • Few people • Few inputs • Observers
Challenging • Synchronous • Lots of people • Many input points • Active participants
e Continuum of Difficulty
DropBox
Blackboard
Skype PolyCom
Web Conference
Our Considerations
• Synchronous class • Moderate number of
people - 8 • Many input points
– 8 computers – 5 locations – 4 time zones
• Active participants
e Continuum of Difficulty
Web Conference
Our Considerations • Interactivity
“How do you promote seminar quality discussion?”
Our Considerations • Interactivity
“How do you promote seminar quality discussion?”
• Accessibility and Flexibility “How do you link 8 people, from 8 computers, in 5 locations with limited equipment or IT support?”
Our Considerations • Interactivity
“How do you promote seminar quality discussion?”
• Accessibility and Flexibility “How do you link 8 people, from 8 computers, in 5 locations with limited equipment or IT support?”
• Ability to Archive “How can you easily record discussions and store more or less indefinitely?”
Web Conferencing Solution
• Adobe Connect became the obvious choice – Allowed for seminar quality discussion.
• Multiple webcams, microphones • Chat, hand raising backup
– Accessible and flexible. • Anywhere you have internet • Minimal equipment
– Ability to archive classes.
Adobe Connect
Web Conferencing Challenges
• Troubleshooting
• Audio
• Archiving • Equipment
Web Conferencing Opportunities
• Graduate-level experience • Invite, engage remote presenters • Students develop familiarity • Technology is improving
eNetworking Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty
• Do we need a private, closed space? • How experienced are our users in social
media? • What kind of functions would users like? • What kind of functions do users need? • What do we expect users to do in the social
space?
Existing eNetworks
Ning BuddyPress, DIY
eNetworking Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty
BuddyPress, DIY • BuddyPress
– Students didn’t already have a favorite social network
– BuddyPress is self-hosted and completely modular
BuddyPress
eNetworking Challenges • Customization • Training • Hosting
• Planning – “Community Building on the
Web” by Amy Jo Kim
• Leading
eNetworking Opportunities
• Customization • Relationship building • Information/experience sharing • Future mentoring
Thank you!