Online Pedagogy

The study of online teaching methods, including the goals of online education and the ways these goals might be achieved

We’ll look at and discuss online pedagogy by exploring how online learning takes place and how online curriculum can be developed to support support self-monitored learning through active participation.

Elements that Effect the Online Learning Environment

• Motivation, content retention, reduced feelings of isolation, and attendance can be improved through active participation in learning

• Collaborative learning activities will enrich the online experience and will facilitate the development of effective cognitive processes

• Teaching and Learning styles can serve to facilitate or hinder the effectiveness of online learning

• Online communication methods can promote active learner engagement and strengthen active cognitive engagement

Collaboration

• Promotes development of critical thinking skills• Promotes co-creation of knowledge and understanding• Promotes reflection• Transforms learning• Collaborative learning occurs only when a learning community has

been established

Working in Groups

• Online groups can prepare learners for today’s work environment• Promotes co-creation of knowledge and understanding• Promotes reflection• Transforms learning into usable knowledge

Working in Groups

• Helps learners develope critical thinking skills and communication skills• Virtual working environment is commonplace today• Effectiveness of virtual teams is essential where more and more

emphasis is placed on using virtual teams to accomplish business goals

• Business leaders emphasize the importance for our future workers to know how to work and communicate with a diversity of people and how to use technology to communicate and collaborate effectively.

Possible Challenges for Learners

• May enter online course thinking it is an independent study and will balk at working with others

• May mistrust or lack comfort in sharing information and ideas• May have time issues – online learning is far more time consuming than

most learners expect• May have technology limitations• Dropping out in the midst of group work can undermine others in a

group and group activities• Lack of participation can cause stress, resentment, and frustration by

those participating

Helping Learners

• Wide representation or diversity works better than homogenous groups• Communication must be inclusive to avoid feelings of isolation• Good leadership and support will help learners keep on track and

motivated

Teaching and Learning Styles

Why bother to examine our educational values?

After all, we have a lot of experience, are successful, know ourselves, and we are here because we are motivated and want to develop a better understanding of online learning, become aware of better methods, and discover new resources.

What do teaching and learning styles have to do with it?

Teaching and Learning Styles

Have you had situations where learners don’t feel comfortable, have problems learning, or demonstrate inappropriate behavior? Most of us have had these moments.

Could our teaching style have some impact? Most of us have a tendency towards a particular teaching style, which may to some degree reflect our own learning style. Limiting our activities to meet the needs of one learning style can result in alienating students who have other learning styles. By having an awareness of our own learning preferences and our teaching-style tendencies, we can work to deliberately create effective learning opportunities for all students.

Learning Style

• People process information and learn differently• Be aware of learning styles so you can incorporate experiences that

appeal to a variety of learning styles• Three common learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic

Learners• Which one are you?• How does it impact your teaching?

Teaching Styles

• The next slide will give you a brief definition of teaching styles• Think about what style or styles you tend to use• Think about why do you use these styles? • Do you think you could use other teaching styles? • What styles should you use and when?• Do you feel comfortable using different teaching styles?

Teaching Styles• Formal Authority: Teacher-centered where teacher feels responsible for providing

information and controlling the content and learning. Community or relationship building is not a focus.

– Example: Language Lesson, with practice exercises, and a quiz• Demonstrator : Teacher-centered where teacher demonstrates and models what is

expected , such as skills or processes, and then guides learners in applying knowledge. Encourages student participation and addresses different learning styles.

– Example: Physics lesson with samples and examples of applications followed by critical thinking questions for application of concepts

• Facilitator: Learner-centered where teacher uses activities for learning and expects learners to take initiative for learning. Focus is often on group activities and collaboration.

– Example: Team management lesson with team presentation on content applied to real-life situation

• Delegator: Learner-centered where teacher gives learners a choice in designing their own learning projects. The teacher then acts as a consultant. Learners work alone or in groups.

– Example: End-of-course computer science project demonstrating concepts learned in the course

Exploring Your Styles

• Now that you have reviewed learning and teaching styles, you’ll have an opportunity to take a couple of surveys to determine your learning and teaching styles

• Exit out of this PowerPoint Show and go back to the lesson