Delivering VCE Physics 100% Online & Interactive

1. STAV/AIP VCE Physics Teachers’ Conference 2014 Delivering VCE Physics 100% Online & Interactive Bruce Carpenter Victorian Virtual Learning Network (Physics) based at Bendigo Senior Secondary College

2. Monash University Wireless Access username: ext-stavphys password: physics2014 Virtual Learning NetworkWebsite http://vln.bssc.edu.auDemonstration course username: physicsconference password: vvlnguest

3. 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 and multimedia • Use an asynchronous model

4. 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 2009-2012

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 2014 Providing unit 1-2 Physics to: • Swifts Creek School • Baimbridge College Hamilton • Cobram Secondary College • Maryborough Education Centre • Rushworth P-12 College • Murrayville Community College • Colac Secondary College • Blackburn Secondary College • Corryong College • Mansfield Secondary College • McClelland College Frankston • Mt Erin College • Somerville Secondary College • Tallangatta Secondary College

9. School Visits

10. 2014 Providing unit 3-4 Physics to: • Swifts Creek School • Baimbridge College Hamilton • Dimboola Memorial Secondary College • Rushworth P-12 College • Heywood & District Secondary College • Monbulk College • Numurkah College

12. 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

13. Funding • Four Years @ 0.6 to develop Units 1 to 4 • Partly DEECD • Partly Multimedia Victoria Grant

14. Funding 2013-14 • Broadband Enabled Education & Skills Services Program (BEESS) Federal Government • Broadband Enabled Innovation Program (BEIP) State Government

15. There is a lot of material already available, however... • Not comprehensive for our course • Not always instructional • Far too open-ended • Curriculum focus is unsuitable • Static documents / text based - The ‘Electronic Filing Cabinet’

16. Research • Internet searches • Looking for courses not just activities • Extensive travel interstate and overseas

17. 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

18. Vendors • Not useful • Many resources out there • Very few written for VCE curriculum • Bound up in yearly pay per student/school software fees

19. 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

20. The VVLN Online Physics Course

21. Learning Management System (LMS) • MOODLE • It’s Free!

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

23. Extra Features • Skype using document camera • Adobe Connect meetings

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

25. Instructional Videos • Teacher narration • Explanation of theory • Worked examples • Branching options

26. Instructional Videos • An engaging introduction • Strategically placed animations, tables, graphs, fly-in text comments, diagrams, video clips.

27. 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

28. DEMONSTRATION • Instructional Video features • Semi notes • Virtual Prac Activity • Quizlet

29. DEMONSTRATION • Semi notes

30. DEMONSTRATION • Instructional Video • Unit 2 Physics – Energy Transformations

31. DEMONSTRATION • Virtual Prac Activity • Virtual Prac Instructions • PhET Simulation – Energy Skate Park

32. DEMONSTRATION • Quizlet

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

34. 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.

35. Advantages over traditional class • Can help to train student teachers • Benefits of years of teaching experience

36. 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

37. Slides created using Notebook Software

38. Slides are imported into Adobe Captivate

39. Each slide is narrated

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. The Future • Delivery to more remote schools • National Physics Curriculum • Revision Lectures • Adjustments due to single Nov Exam • More VCE subjects to be developed • Publish to a range of mobile devices • iPad (HTML 5 and simulations)

44. Other VLN online Courses • Maths Methods Units 1-2 • Psychology Units 1&2 • Specialist Maths 3&4 • Chemistry 1&2 • Legal Studies 1-4 • Health 1-4 • General Maths (under construction)

45. DEECD Excellence Awards 2013

46. Bruce CarpenterVirtual Learning Network – PhysicsBendigo Senior Secondary Collegecarpenter.bruce@bssc.edu.auWebsite http://vln.bssc.edu.auDemonstration course username: physicsconference password: vvlnguest