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Interactive, E-Learning in the Community College. Cathy A. Simpson csimpson@nvcc.edu Director, Technical Application Center http://tac.nvcc.edu Northern Virginia Community College. What is Distance Learning at NVCC?.
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Interactive, E-Learningin the Community College Cathy A. Simpson csimpson@nvcc.edu Director, Technical Application Center http://tac.nvcc.edu Northern Virginia Community College
What is Distance Learning at NVCC? Distance learning takes place when a teacher or facilitator and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e., voice, video, data, and print) is used to bridge the instructional gap. Sometimes distance learning is in concert with face-to-face communication.
Public Higher Education Institutions Offering Distance Learning in U.S.
Types of Distance Learning • Telecourses • Videotape courses • Audiotape courses • CENTRA courses • Web-based e-learning courses
Dramatic Increase in Online Learning • Percentage of institutions using online technologies tripled from 22% in 1995 to 60% in 1997-98. • By 1998, 78% of HE public institutions offered online distance learning. • Number of online college students increased from 42% in 1996 to 95% in 2003. NCES 1999 Report
What is E-Learning at NVCC? E-learning is Internet-enabled learning that includes • content delivery in multiple formats; • management of the learning experience; • networked community of learners, content developers, and experts.
Why Engage in E-Learning? • provide resources • deliver course content • allow online communication • expand learning communities
increase interactivity • blend the visual with text • increase access & opportunity • meet workforce needs
Computer Access at NVCC • 86% had computer access at home • 86% had email access at home • 86% had Internet access at home • 96% of those who had computer access at home used it • 93% used home computer for school-related activities FA 1999 NVCC OIR Report
61% had computer access at work • 72% had email access at work • 69% had Internet access at work • 62% used email at work • 58% used Internet at work
What Is Needed to Deliver E-learning Successfully? • College Technology Plan • Robust Infrastructure • Technology Tools - Software • Course Management System (i.e. Blackboard or WebCT) • Asynchronous Course Development Tools (i.e. Web Editors & Other Software) • Synchronous Course Development Tools (i.e. CENTRA and HorizonLive)
Technology Tools - Equipment • Campus Computer Access for Students and Faculty • Support Services • IT HelpDesk • Training and Application Development Units • Distance Learning Center • Assessment & Evaluation Processes
Establish the Learning Environment:Types of Web Courses • WebPresence • WebEnhanced • WebCentric • WebCourse
WebPresence • Web used as a resource for general information about classroom course • Web used to provide basic information about a course such as meeting time, course description, and syllabus
WebEnhanced • Web used to support a traditional campus course • Web technology used to present course administration components • Web used to support faculty-to-student communication • Web used to provide access to content and dynamic resources
WebCentric/Hybrid • Class gatherings take less than one-third of class time • Makes significant use of web technology & Web applications to support teaching & learning • Center of instruction shifts from classroom to the Web
WebCourse • Accessed anytime, anywhere via Internet and Web browser • Flexible and asynchronous times & places for interaction & communication • No requirement for students to gather physically anywhere • Makes significant use of web technology & web applications to support teaching & learning
Types of E-Learning at NVCC • Credit and Non-Credit Web-based Courses • Credit and Non-Credit Video Conferencing Courses • Technology Training Workshops
How is Distance Learning Supported at NVCC? • Office of the Dean of Instructional & Information Technology http://www.nvcc.edu/oit • Extended Learning Institute http://eli.nvcc.edu • Technical Applications Center http://tac.nvcc.edu
IT Help Desk & Information Technology Support Services http://ithelpdesk.nvcc.edu • Continuing Education http://nvcc.edu/develop • Campus Learning Resource Centers http://www.nvcc.edu/library • Campus Divisions http://www.nvcc.edu/campus
How Do We Design, Develop, and Deliver a Quality Online Course? • Identify the characteristics of effective online courses • Apply the principles of instructional design • Develop mentor system • Engage in ongoing assessment
Questions to Ask When Developing an Online Course • Who are my learners? • What do I want my learners to learn? • What resources do my learners need to learn? • How will I know what they did learn?
How Can I Use the Web as a Tool to Help My Students Learn? • Identify and develop types of web-based activities to help students meet your course goals and objectives. • Implement the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergraduate Education. • Design methods for determining student success.
Content Design Considerations Core concepts & Principles Applying Core Concepts Problem Analysis & Solution
Implement the Seven Principles of Good Practice in Undergrad Education • Encourage contact between students and faculty • Develop reciprocity and cooperation among students • Use active learning techniques • Give prompt feedback • Emphasize time on task • Communicate high expectations • Respect diverse talents and ways of learning Chickering and Ehrmann
Faculty retain academic control Faculty prepared to meet special requirements of teaching at a distance Course design shaped to potentials of medium Students fully understand course requirements and prepared to succeed Personal interaction maintained Class size set through normal faculty channels American Federation of Teachers Use the Guidelines for Good Practice in Distance Education
Courses cover all material Experimentation with variety of subjects encouraged Equivalent research opportunities provided Student assessment comparable Equivalent advisement opportunities offered Faculty retain creative control over use and re-use of materials Full degree programs include same-time same- place coursework Evaluation of coursework undertaken at all levels.
Tips for E-Learning Success How Can I Increase Interaction? How Can I Assess Effectiveness?
Tips for Success: Focus on Learner • Design site to be learner-driven to promote active learning through • discussion forums • email & listservs • real-time chats • webquests • case study applications
online collaborative writing • self-directed learning units • electronic journals and portfolios • student designed web pages
Some Results of Focusing on the Learner • Expand the dimension of your classroom • written conversations • online testing • online paper review • Engage in new types of communication • among students • between student and teacher
Develop new types of assignments • WebQuests: inquiry-oriented activity from Internet resources • analyze body of knowledge found on Web • transform it in some way • demonstrate understanding by creating something others can respond to http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html
Develop new types of assignments • Student developed web sites • Provide a Web Page Template • Assign Its Purpose
Create a Sense of Community • Being connected to others or belonging to a group. • Relationships are formed and roles established. • Nature of social interaction key factor in growth of the community.
Characteristics of Successful Learning Communities • Content generated and consumed • Ample interaction and interactivity • Clear common focus • Frequent visits based on member’s use of community resources.
Distributed control • Variety of roles for members • Flexible and negotiated learning activities • High levels of dialogue,interaction and collaboration
Tips for Success : Integrate & Collaborate • Identify course goals & objectives • Identify strategies you know help students achieve goals & objectives • use technology to extend strategies or create new ones
Read the Web for • ideas • examples • help
Recognize & explore differences in distance & traditional learning • Process issues • Resource issues • Communication issues
Establish collaboration with others • Grants • Campus Initiatives • Technology Institutes • Mentoring
Factor in sessions to learn software needed to complete project • Web editors • Digital camera • Scanner • Plug-ins
Tips for Success:Include the Basics • Welcome with general course information • Netiquette guidelines • Participation policy with security statement • Technology requirements & how-to’s • Resource links • Tips for success
Basics: Netiquette Netiquette describes what you should or should not do if you want to get along with other Internet learners. • Consult The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette by Arlene H. Rinaldi http://wise.fau.edu/netiquette/net/index.html
Netiquette Statementfor a Course • As a member of the academic community, conduct yourself in person, in print, and online in a responsible way and in the spirit of courteous educational inquiry. • Be courteous, even when you disagree, and always provide clear, logical support for your views.
Clear communication of meaning depends entirely on your word choice and visuals, so choose your words and visuals carefully. • Do not type all capitals, which is difficult to read and is considered the electronic version of "shouting." • Abide by the policies of the college and the laws of the state and the country listed in the Student Handbook.
Additional Basics: How to Access College Services • Procedures for Accessing Student Email Accounts • Information on Accessing the Library Electronically • Information on Online Student Services
Tools Available for Developing E-Learning at NVCC • Blackboard Course Management System bb.vccs.edu • Web Editors: Dreamweaver, Netscape Composer, & FrontPage • Virtual Classroom: Centra Symposium tac.nvcc.edu/centra • Learning Object Collections: MERLOT www.merlot.org • Student Information System: PeopleSoft www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect/
How Do Established Distance Learning Institutions Ensure Quality? They ask the question: What is effective learning and how can it be measured?
Quality Assurance in Higher Ed Targets Learning at Four Levels • the institution • the program or major • the course • the student